`LARAMIE' PLAY OFFERS MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE DRAMA SET FOR STAGING AT COLLEGE.Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer VALENCIA - A play considered the ``Our Town'' of today has taken center stage in the Black Box theater For the theater in Oslo, Norway, see Black Box Teater. The black box theater is a relatively recent innovation, consisting of a simple, somewhat unadorned performance space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat floor. of College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . ``The Laramie Project,'' which chronicles the life of Laramie, Wyo., during the year following the brutal murder of gay student Matthew Shepard Matthew Wayne Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998) was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was fatally attacked near Laramie, on the night of October 6 – October 7, 1998 in what was widely reported by international news media as a savage , is in production at the college. The play was created by the Tectonic Theater Project With Moisés Kaufman at the helm, the Tectonic Theater Project explores the ways in which experimentation with form and structure can inform theme in contemporary drama. Perhaps most widely known for The Laramie Project , whose members interviewed 60 residents of Laramie. In the performance, 10 actors play multiple characters, many of them with conflicting views. Shepard died in October 1999, five days after being pistol-whipped, burned and left for dead lashed to a split-rail fence just outside Laramie's city limits. His killers, Russell A. Henderson and Aaron J. McKinney, are serving life sentences in the Wyoming State Penitentiary penitentiary: see prison. . Director Steven Whelan, drama instructor at Valencia High School Valencia High School may refer to:
``There were a lot of different opinions, different religions and lifestyles,'' he said. ``But it was a lot like here.'' Whelan considered doing the play at the high school, but found the work a bit too intense. ``It was difficult for the kids, and I was on the fence as to whether or not we should do it,'' he said. A series of events gave him the opportunity to do the show at the college, where the production has been received with open arms. ``It's definitely subject matter that is important to this community,'' Whelan said. ``From my early days of teaching here, I noticed the kids had a tendency to be on the homophobic side. I did my part in trying to correct that in my drama classes and teach tolerance, talking about how (playwright) Oscar Wilde was charged with gross indecency INDECENCY. An act against good behaviour and a just delicacy. 2 Serg. & R. 91. 2. The law, in general, will repress indecency as being contrary to good morals, but, when the public good requires it, the mere indecency of disclosures does not suffice to exclude and spent two years in prison for being gay.'' When Sheppard was killed, MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. dedicated a 24-hour time slot to show the movie made about it, Whelan said, adding that triggered talk of compassion. ``We were able to talk about what happens when hate is taken to the extreme, since the entire country was overwhelmed by the incident. ``The play says `Good has somewhat come out of evil,' and I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion or religious belief; just create a sense of tolerance, whether it's about someone's sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. or race or religion.'' Whelan said audiences have been moved by the message of the show. ``There was a woman on opening night and as soon as the lights went up for the curtain call, stood clapping madly, tears streaming down her face,'' he said. ``It's been pretty positive. Nobody has said, `How dare you.''' The experience has been moving for actors as well. ``The project has real meaning in our community, especially with the unrest we've had on campus recently,'' said Brent Christiansen, drama instructor at Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
Christiansen plays several characters in the show, including Henderson's father, a friend of Shepard, a hate-filled evangelical preacher and a gay activist who is appalled at the lack of change in the aftermath of the murder and trial. ``I grew up Mormon in Salt Lake City. I have a brother who came out gay and that tended to cause rifts in our family and our family's relationship with the church, which resonates with me. I certainly understand both sides of the issue.'' Performances of The Laramie Project are scheduled at 8 p.m. today and Saturday; a 2 p.m. matinee is scheduled Sunday. For tickets and information, call the College of the Canyons box office at (661) 362-5304. carol.rock(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5252 |
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