The story of Matthew Shepard has touched the hearts of many people in the past years.
Although his death occurred 10 years ago, the media often revisits the horrible incident through the play "The Laramie Project," which opened at Blue Room Theatre on Nov. 6.
"The Laramie Project" shows the harm that hate violence and hate crimes can cause. The play also teaches the audience about prejudice and tolerance to other people, ideas and issues in school and life. The play has rapidly caught people's attention.
Junior Tiffany Mathews, 20, heard of the play before it came to Chico, she said. She decided to attend the play after reading more about it.
"'The Laramie Project' is more than just the story of Matthew Shepard being brutally beaten to death, it's a powerful play that opens the minds of the audience," the public relations major said.
"The Laramie Project" started in New York by the Tectonic Theater Project. The play premiered February 2000 in Denver and has been performed across the United States.
The Tectonic Theater Project interviewed more than 200 Laramie, Wyo., residents shortly after Shepard's death. The play focuses on the aftermath of his death.
Junior Paula Buresh, 20, a musical theater major, played a few parts in the play, but her main role was the Baptist minister.
"The Baptist minister played a big part in the play because his belief is that being gay is wrong," Buresh said. "He was very black-and-white, just like many of us are today."
The Baptist minister is not a bad character, just a character with his own beliefs, Buresh said.
The passion and intensity in each character make the play powerful. Together, the actors bring the audience back to 1998. Muffled sobs were heard from the crowd throughout Friday night's show.
Business major Natassia Culp, 20, was fighting back tears for most of the show, she said. She is very passionate about the growing issue of hate crimes and thinks it is important to educate and spread knowledge of such issues throughout the world.
"It's disgusting to me that people would kill another human being just because of their sexuality," she said.
That is exactly what Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney did Oct. 7, 1998. The two men met Shepard at a bar in Colorado and offered him a ride home. They beat and tortured him, then left him to die.
Audience members found themselves distressed when journal entries were read and news reports were recited. The actors had to portray the responses from residents that, at times, were not kind or sympathetic. Some of the people interviewed were rude, racist and even unbelieving of the incident.
The after party was more upbeat. Friends and audience members chatted about the talent and power within the performance.
"'The Laramie Project' is one of the most moving and powerful plays that I have ever seen," said 20-year-old junior Trelasa Baratta, a sociology major. "I am going to watch it again before it ends."
The show continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. A raffle is also held at intermission and raffle tickets can be purchased with play admission.
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