Theatre Fairfield presents "The Laramie Project" at Quick Center | Press Releases

Theatre Fairfield, Fairfield University's student theatre company, will present "The Laramie Project" from Wednesday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 2 at the Wien Experimental Theatre in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The curtain rises at 8 p.m. each evening with additional afternoon performances at 2 p.m. on March 1 and 2.

The award-winning Tectonic Theater Project and its artistic director Moisés Kaufman created "The Laramie Project" after the 1998 death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyo. Members of the New York City-based troupe traveled to Wyoming seven times in the weeks after the incident in search of answers: How did the murder happen in this small midwestern town? How had it changed Laramie? What was it like to live in a town now forever associated with such a crime? What did it say about the United States at century's end?

Tectonic Theater Project members conducted more than 200 interviews in Wyoming and compiled true stories from those who knew Shepard and his murderers. The finished play, which includes snippets of trial testimony and reflections from the company members' journals, is a study in contrast, taking on the complex issues of gay rights, values, hate and community.

Theatre Fairfield's production includes an ensemble of 10 Fairfield University students playing multiple roles. Douglas Moser, whose past Theatre Fairfield credits include "Lend Me a Tenor," "The Children's Hour," and "Twelve Angry Men," is guest director. Jennifer Manzo is costume designer and Matt Maraffi is scenic designer. Lynne Chase serves as lighting designer.

Tickets are $12 for general admission, $5 for student admission. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.