Carey Institute to host dramatic reading of The Laramie Project

Local high school theater group takes the stage to share message of tolerance

RENSSELAERVILLE, NY—The Voorheesville High School Dionysians will perform a dramatic reading of The Laramie Project at the Carey Center for Global Good on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 6:00pm. The Dionysians performed the play at Voorheesville High School in November of last year and were invited by the Carey Center to share their work with a new audience.

The play, written by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project of New York City, was based on the reaction to the 1998 murder of a University of Wyoming student in the town of Laramie, WY. After Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a fence and left for death, Kaufman and the group journeyed to Laramie to interview people of the town about the event. It was their reaction to the heinous crime that sparked the play, later turned into a movie for HBO. It has been seen by over 30 million people since its inception in 1998 and was recently performed by the Albany Civic Theater.

The Laramie Project has become a tool for teaching about hatred and acceptance through storytelling. “Because of the message of tolerance that The Laramie Project teaches,” said Portia Hubert, “both Wayne Bowmanchester and I had been dreaming of producing it. This year, because of the right combination of actors and a supportive administration, that became possible.”

Hubert is the adviser of the club. Bowmanchester is the director of The Laramie Projectand has directed previous plays for the Dionysians. In addition to providing acting experience for students, the club also exposes students to set and prop construction, lighting, sound design and execution. The opportunity to perform the play at the Carey Center will be a new experience for the club. “I am thrilled and honored to perform The Laramie Project at the Carey Center for Global Good because the message needs to be heard worldwide,” said Shawn Goyer who will perform in the play.

In addition to the general public, the Carey Center is reaching out to school communities around the area, hoping to bring in a new audience of high school students and parents. “The message of this play is universal,” said Carey Center for Global Good president, Carol Ash. “We hope that the opportunity to perform the play in our auditorium will encourage these young people to continue sharing what they’ve learned with their peers.”

The program will begin at 6:00 pm. Admission is $5. Light fare and cash bar available. Reservations are recommended and can be made at 518.797.5100. For more information on the Carey Center for Global Good and its initiatives, visit their website at www.careyconferencecenter.org.