Matthew Shepard News

This Spotlight focuses on Phil Brickey, an actor, director, rock musician and Elementary School Theatre teacher who was one of the first directors for whom I produced a 2006 show for Kentwood Players at the Westchester Playhouse. That show was George Washington Slept Here which required a double level set to be constructed as the home being renovated had to look totally dilapidated in Act 1 and beautifully restored in Act II. Quite a feat of stagecraft thanks to set designer Grant Francis.

Music Mountain Theatre presents The Laramie Project.

Music Mountain Theatre presents The Laramie Project.

Back by audience demand! On Friday, March 20, 2020 at 7 p.m., WQXR Radio Host and Peabody Award-winning Broadcaster, Elliott Forrest, returns to the Music Conservatory of Westchester for his interactive, multi-media 'Movie Music with Elliott Forrest' presentation exploring music from beloved classic films to contemporary favorite movies.

Gettysburg Community Theatre, a non-profit 501c3 organization in historic downtown Gettysburg, PA, has just kicked off it's 12th Season will a sold-out production of the musical Willy Wonka. GCT's two staff members and 170 volunteers made over 100 performances happen in 2019, and thanks to donors, sponsors, volunteers, students, and audience members, GCT looks forward to another wonderful year of theatre.

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that it will honor award-winning actress, producer, and activist Judith Light with the Excellence in Media Award at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York. GLAAD also announced that Lilly Singh, openly bisexual executive producer and host of NBC's a?oeA Little Late with Lilly Singh,a?? will serve as host of the Awards, which will take place at the Hilton Midtown in New York on Thursday, March 19. GLAAD previously announced that Ryan Murphy will receive the Vito Russo Award at the New York ceremony.

Tacoma Little Theatre's Off the Shelf program presents the moving true story, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, written Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber, with direction by Warren Kerr This production will play Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 7:30pm.

The brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998 caused anguish and outrage, and almost 20 years later inspired American composer Craig Hella Johnson to compose an oratorio: at once commemorating the tragedy of a young life lost; and capturing the fullness of Matthew's 21 years and his legacy.

Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) is thrilled to welcome Tectonic Theater Project to conduct the 2020 Teachers Institute at the 71st Annual SETC Convention.

On October 6, 1998, gay student Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten and tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. His 18 hours freezing there and his resulting death shook Laramie to the core, while putting them squarely on the map. Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie shortly after to conduct in-person interviews with the town, and transcribe those interviews into The Laramie Project, a play heard round the world.

It is a heartbreakingly beautiful work.

The current production presented by the performing arts department at California State University at Channel Islands is the retelling of the tragic hate crime involving an Out student at a Wyoming university, two bigoted young townspeople, and the small town of Laramie that was affected by the incident and has forever been changed.

Back to the Backlot, a live musical comedy variety show, will bring back many of West Hollywood's famed Backlot Theatre's original showcase stars to commemorate the end of an era of one of the country's most famous venues for live entertainment. The event will mark the beginning of the preservation project known as Robertson Lane, which will re-build the venue formally known as The Factory and the famous Studio One Nightclub. The historic building opened in 1929 as the home of Mitchell Cameras, an early and important movie camera maker for the large movie studios. It was then the Studio One nightclub/Backlot Theatre from the late 1970s through the 1990s.

LIVING FOR TODAY will present a benefit concert entitled Living for Today: a?oePut on a Happy Facea??, on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette St) beginning at 7PM. The concert is produced and directed by David Alpert (If/Then, The Apple Boys) with music direction by Jason Wetzel (After Midnight). Tickets are priced $15 and $25; with a select amount of $100 VIP seats which includes an after-show champagne toast with the company. Tickets are available at www.joespub.com. The concert will feature a live band and Broadway stars performing their favorite showtunes, all chosen to make us smile.

A true ensemble piece, beautifully directed by Scott Cooper.

As America approaches the 10 year anniversary of the “Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” Oxygen, the destination for high-quality crime programming, explores how far the country has come with the emotional and poignant two-hour special “Uncovered: Killed by Hate” on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm PT/ET. With hate crimes on the rise, this newest installment of “Uncovered” explores some of the nation's most brutal cases, by taking an in depth look at the cases of Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., the Charlottesville riots, Blaze Bernstein and the Portland train attack. 

As America approaches the 10 year anniversary of the 'Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,' Oxygen, the destination for high-quality crime programming, explores how far the country has come with the emotional and poignant two-hour special 'Uncovered: Killed by Hate' on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm PT/ET. With hate crimes on the rise, this newest installment of 'Uncovered' explores some of the nation's most brutal cases, by taking an in depth look at the cases of Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., the Charlottesville riots, Blaze Bernstein and the Portland train attack.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs is set to celebrate its Centenary in 2020 with an inspirational, future-focused program, shining light on Australian composers, and on the organisation's longstanding commitment to collaboration, community and connection.

Theatrical Outfit launches its 2019 a?" 2020 Season with an unprecedented event a?" Our Town and The Laramie Project running together in repertory. 10 actors. 2 directors. 1 unforgettable experience. This groundbreaking theatrical event runs August 27 a?" September 29, 2019 only at The Balzer Theater at Herren's in the heart of Downtown Atlanta.

Richmond Triangle Players announces that RTP's associate producing producer Lucian Restivo will assume the title of Artistic Director for the company, beginning with the 2019-20 season.