"The Laramie Project"
Roosevelt, Eastern Michigan University
8 p.m. Oct. 26
2 p.m., 8 p.m. Oct. 28
6 p.m. Oct. 29
http://www.spotlightstudents.com
By now, "The Laramie Project" should be familiar to most people. But for a group of Eastern Michigan University students, some never heard of the Matthew Shepard-inspired production – until now.
"I really didn't know anything about the play," Katie Wolfe confessed. "I didn't even know what it was about until I joined the cast. And on the first and second day of rehearsal I broke down and cried in the middle of the scene. It just hit me."
Even director Matthew Gregory hadn't seen the production or read the Moises Kaufman book before beginning rehearsals six weeks ago.
"Directing a full-length, deep show like this has been a transformation for myself and a great new learning experience," Gregory said.
While taking a break from rehearsals, the cast groups together on the stage inside Roosevelt Theater. There's an expected somber aura among some, but all seem eager to touch those who haven't seen the production.
"I think this show will be around for a long, long time 'cause there's always going to be hate," Shane Kalminski said. "There's always going to be some group that's discriminated against. As long as every time this production is done someone in the audience is touched by it then that's enough to keep it alive."
The play often hit Kalminski, 18, after he left rehearsal and considered Judy Shepard's plea to parents to tell their child they love them every day. When he thinks of her message while rehearsing, he often heads directly to his room after he's finished and cries.
"I call my mom to tell her how much I love her," he said.
For strong LGBT advocate Erin Moynihan, 20, she's had a tough time removing herself from her role as narrator, who speaks in a monotone voice throughout the production.
"No one, especially Matthew, deserves the stuff that they're put through," Moynihan said. "And that's one reason why it hit me so hard because it's something that I truly believe in."
The cast agreed that it was the message of "The Laramie Project" that has made it a timeless production.
"I was telling Zack (assistant director) that we're going to be calling each other up when we're 75 saying, 'Remember we did that show 'The Laramie Project'?'" Gregory said. "And it's still going to be done at schools and universities across the United States."
