Laramie Case Study

Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Company travelled to Laramie, Wyoming to ‘Conduct over 400 interviews with about 100 Laramie residents’ (Chalkdust Theatre Inc. Riverside Theatre Parramatta, 2010) following the tragic murder of Mathew Shephard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming in 1998, to then create the verbatim, docudrama play, The Laramie Project. The production follows the real residents of Laramie following this tragic event by portraying a large range of views and opinions on the topic of homosexuality and the incident from that of priest’s, the parents and friends of Mathew Shephard as well as Laramie residents who identify as gay or lesbian and many more. The director juxtaposes these contrasting opinions throughout the play to portray the conflicting emotions within Laramie about the event, all the while we follow Mathews last hours and the court proceedings to determine the consequences for the perpetrators as the town begins the healing process.

Laramie, Wyoming is known as a mostly conservative, republican party majority, which is why there were no hate crime laws that had to deal with sexual orientation or gender identity. Republicans typically were Christians meaning they were against homosexuality and believed it was very wrong. The Laramie officials did not pass any law for about ten years, which showed the Laramie community that their own government did not approve of homosexuals. The government in Laramie is a major influence on a citizen’s political opinion and how they feel on certain topics like homosexuality. If the government does not show approval, how will the citizens of Laramie gain a major acceptance towards homosexuals? Even the governor of Wyoming did not

Transportation in the region has a long and successful past. However, public transportation has consistently taken a back seat to the personal automobile. There has been a strong core of persons who rely on public transportation to achieve mobility, and governmental

Life is an amazing, wonderful, beautiful adventure that we are blessed with every day. But, we are greeted many times throughout those days with choices we have to make. Most of those choices we make are built by the structure and beliefs that our parents and loved ones have passed onto us. Looking into how we were brought up can we really say what’s right or wrong? Can we positively determine that everyone thinks the same? While watching “The Laramie Project” you see and hear two-hundred different opinions towards the Matthew Shepard’s case. Two-hundred … that’s two-hundred people from Laramie, friends of the victim and attackers, and loved ones fighting for what they believe is right. This case not only caught the whole town’s attention but was recognized on a national level. Labeled as a hate crime you learn so much more about the people’s identity like Matthew Shepard as a homosexual, the tragedy of a man/son/friend that struck a town, and how people see Laramie, Wyoming as their home built by a community.

Beyond the road reconstruction, in 2012, out of all traffic death, pedestrians accounted for 16.16% which is the 5th highest in the nation and 3rd highest in the child pedestrian fatality rate.3 This indicates that the state and city developers need to take in account more pedestrian and cycling safety measures in their city planning and

Moses Kaufman is the producer of the successful play “The Laramie Project” after a horrific incident that occurred in Laramie. Members of the artistic group of Kaufman 's, traveled to Laramie to find out more about the horrific incidence. The main aim of the whole project was to find the emotions, reactions, and reflections that the people of Laramie manifested concerning the beating and subsequent death of a twenty-three-year-old college student (Gale, 2016). A lot of questions were raised concerning the death as people had different point of views. Some thought it was a hate crime, others thought it was just a brutal assault or a form of robbery. Four hundred interviews were conducted so as to come up with the reasons behind the brutal murder straight from the town folks. The main issue was how homosexuality was defined in the crime. The Laramie Project, questioned the rights of the LGBT+ group. For example, why were Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders discriminated by the community and the society as a whole even though their rights were constitutional?

In Moises Kaufman's, The Laramie Project the under lying theme of the novel is people are afraid of change. This can be proved from the novel with the character Cathy Connolly and the struggle that homosexuals have to live in there own society. The juxtaposition of anti-gay demonstrations sparked by religion at a homosexual's funeral, and even the physical setting is related to why people are afraid of change. Whether it is start by homophobia, religion, or opression, people are not just afraid of change in general but change for a free society where homosexuals can express and just be themselves.

In “The Laramie Project,” written by members of the Tectonic theatre company, aims to examine the Matthew Shepard murder through the use of theatre. Within the play, there are several insights and moments that prove to be surprising, puzzling, useful, new, and interesting.

The Laramie project captured the audience's attention by utilizing different design methods on stage. This included sound, stage and hand properties, light, and music. With an ensemble of 10 actors playing over 30 roles, this proved to be an amazing play to experience. The playwright was constructed in a clear manner, which eliminated the confusion of "who is who." Through the usage of the stage elements as well as the dynamics of each character, this brought about an effective plot.

How did the pioneers get what they need? How did the pioneers stay safe? Well back in the day pioneers could find a break. Small buildings called forts were there. The pioneers could trade and be protected. This is what we call forts along the trail. Forts are fortified buildings or a strategic position. But in the days, they were not just used for war and fighting, but some were. One of the more famous forts is Fort Laramie. Fort Laramie used to be a great battle fort but eventually went into the fur trading business. Many natives and travelers stopped here to trade for many goods that they use for survival. Imagine this: Spears whooshed past a wagon. The pioneers were

We traveled 14 miles to Chimney Rock and it was amazing. This rock is the most famous of all landmarks of the westward migration. Some say it looks like a tall factory chimney. This is what is most written about in pioneers journals. Many put “the most remarkable object that I ever saw” in their journals. It looked like a tall factory chimney or a chimney from a burnt house. Charles described it as a Limbless trunk of a gigantic. Indians called it the “Tepee” or the “Wigwam”. After we pass the Rock, we travel for another 75 miles to reach Fort Laramie. Fort Laramie stood alone the main trail to Oregon and California. Fort Laramie is a emigrant resting place to trappers, traders, missionaries, and many more. The building was built by the Laramie

After reading “The Laramie Project” your left with so many questions, ideas and emotions. The play is a series of interviews (reenacted exactly as they happened) to give the audience facts and true statements so that they can form there own opinion. The play takes place in Laramie Wyoming, after the “hate crime” that left 21 year old Matthew Shepard fighting for his life that ended soon after all because the fact that he was gay. Hate is a feeling and hate crime is acting on that hatred, but what exactly is a “hate crime”? What makes it so different from any other crime? Isn't all crime hate crime?

In 1868, the United States and the Lakota Nation of the Sioux Tribe entered into the Treaty of Fort Laramie, in which the majority of the provisions served to divide the Black Hills, a land sacred land to the Lakota people, among the Sioux. It also committed to the notion that the land would not be settled by whites. Also included in the Treaty was the condition, “In order to insure the civilization of the Indians entering into this treaty, the necessity of education is admitted…” [and] they {the reservation settlers}, therefore, pledge themselves to compel their children, male and female, between the ages of six and sixteen years, to attend school, and it is hereby made the duty of the agent for said Indians to see that this stipulation is

The Laramie Project is a piece of literature like no other. However, it does take some getting used to. A book in the genre of a play isn’t usually as popular, or read as frequently as traditional books. At first it seems a little boring and hard to follow. The interviews begin slow and have little correlation with each other.

| Multiple means of transportation are noted. Most people drive cars to work in the city because the housing becomes more rural and dispersed outside the city limits. Two people are noted to be riding pedal bikes through town. People who live within the city can also walk or take the public bus. The municipality owns the buses and