This alarming play about homophobia, discrimination and hate crime is based on the brutal murder of the gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard on October 6, 1998. Told from many perspectives, which are taken from actual interviews with relatives, friends and neighbours of Matthew Shepard, Thee Laramie Project investigates the case and its aftermath capturing the voices, thoughts and feelings of more than 60 people of the town Laramie, Wyoming in short scenes. The play is based on dialogues and closes with the trial against Matthew’s murders, who were of the same age as their victim.

At American High Schools, the play is used to teach against prejudice, intolerance and violence against the LGBTQ+ community. To create a deeper understanding of the story, the teacher should use significant scenes from different stage adaptations and the movie adaptation (2002). Both the movie and the script are suitable for an interdisciplinary teaching project with History, Politics, Ethics and Social Science. Teaching resources can be found on the internet.

Drama · United States · 2000