Matthew Shepard News

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, is thrilled to announce the cast for the upcoming production of 'The Laramie Project.' The play will be presented for four performances only, March 28-31.

Current star of America's Got Talent – The Champions Brian Justin Crum is set to make his Los Angeles concert debut at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one show only on Thursday, March 7, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Crum will present a very special evening featuring all of his AGT favorites and more. He will also debut his new single, “Circles.”

Singer/Songwriter Steve Grand is set to make his Los Angeles return celebrating the release of his second album, not the end of me. He will bring his new, intimate concert Up Close & Personal to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one show only on Tuesday, February 12, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents.

A riveting production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER will be performed in the Warner's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre February 1-3, featuring the students of the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education Performance Lab. On October 6, 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard left the Fireside Bar with Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. The following day he was discovered on a prairie at the edge of town, tied to a fence, brutally beaten, and close to death. Six days later Matthew Shepard died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado. On November 14th, 1998, ten members of Tectonic Theatre Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming and conducted interviews with the people of the town. Over the next year, the company returned to Laramie six times and conducted over 200 interviews. These texts became the basis for the play The Laramie Project.

2019 is looking to be a season of exciting, provocative performance art that features a variety of voices. Here are my top picks for the nine shows of 2019 that shouldn't be missed (in order by date).

Platinum selling recording artist and Tony Award nominated actor Sam Harris is set to bring his new show Stripped to Martinis Above Fourth in San Diego on February 21 and Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood on February 22 and 23, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Along with his longtime musical director Todd Schroeder, Harris will perform Broadway and pop songs from his stellar 30-year career. No band, no backup singers. Just two musical stars and a piano.

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, is excited to announce a new season of comedy, drama, epic musicals and original work. Founded in 1961 as the 'Broad Street Players,' The Sauk owns and operates the Sauk Theatre, located at 240 E. Chicago St., Jonesville.

NFL defensive tackle and The Voice finalist Esera Tuaolo is set to make his Los Angeles cabaret debut with his new show Mr. Aloha at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood on Thursday, January 24, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Tuaolo's show Mr. Aloha features heartfelt tales and video snippets of his life experiences, classic covers, and original material.

Returning to the concert stage in Los Angeles for the first time in three years, critically acclaimed actor and singer Erich Bergen is set to    bring his show An Early New Year's Celebration to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for two performances only on Friday, December 28 and Today, December 29, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Michael Orland (American Idol) is musical director.

Returning to the concert stage in Los Angeles for the first time in three years, critically acclaimed actor and singer Erich Bergen is set to    bring his show An Early New Year's Celebration to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for two performances only today, December 28 and Saturday, December 29, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Michael Orland (American Idol) is musical director.

Promethean's critically-acclaimed production of Moises Kaufman's historical drama GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE, which enjoyed a two-week run in December 2016, will be remounted from February 15 through March 24, 2019 at Strawdog Theatre, 1809 W. Berenice. GROSS INDECENCY, which Promethean Artistic Director Brian Pastor will again direct, will be performed with cross-gender casting in some roles, as it was in the company's earlier production. Promethean Ensemble Member Jamie Bragg will reprise her leading role as Oscar Wilde.

Broadway playwright and director Moises Kaufman (Torch Song, The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, I am My Own Wife), founder of Tectonic Theater Project, will lead a "theater and whiskey" trip to the famed Edinburgh Festivals and the Scottish Highlands, from August 3 through 11, 2019.

A riveting production of THE LARAMIE PROJECT: 10 YEARS LATER will be performed in the Warner's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre February 1-3, featuring the students of the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education Performance Lab.

New York City drag legend Lady Bunny is set to bring her holiday show The Stockings Were Hung to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one performance only on Thursday, December 20, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents.

Returning to the concert stage in Los Angeles for the first time in three years, critically acclaimed actor and singer Erich Bergen is set to    bring his show An Early New Year's Celebration to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for two performances only on Friday, December 28 and Saturday, December 29, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents. Michael Orland (American Idol) is musical director.

Acclaimed Chicago-based dynamic duo and America's Got Talent audience favorites Amy & Freddy will bring their holiday show A Very Divalicious California Christmas to Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for one performance only on Tuesday, December 18, at 8:30pm, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents.

New theatre group Theatre Travels takes on the ambitious task of retelling THE LARAMIE PROJECT and THE LARAMIE PROJECT:10 YEARS LATER two decades on from Matthew Shepard's brutal murder.

Acclaimed Verve recording artist Brenna Whitaker will make her San Diego debut at Martinis Above Fourth on November 28, and her Hollywood debut at Catalina Bar & Grill on November 29, with her holiday show In the Spirit of Christmas, it was announced today by Chris Isaacson Presents.

Acclaimed actress and cabaret artist Joan Ryan performed her show An Evening with Joan Ryan at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City on Saturday, November 3.

Twenty years ago last month in a small college town in Wyoming, a young gay man was brutally beaten and tied to a fence post, left to die. The name Matthew Shepard has become synonymous with gay rights and in particular with the national hate crime legislation that bears his name, passed into law 11 years after his murder. Unfortunately Matthew's story is not unique, but for some reason it capture the nation, and he became a symbol for a larger movement toward equality and justice. Much has changed for the better in the last 20 years, including the hate crime legislation and the repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' and the Defense of Marriage Act. But hate crimes still happen, against members of the LGBTQ community, against Jews, against people of color, against immigrants. As demonstrated by this sad fact, along with the current White House resident's threat against the very existence of our transgender citizens, the good work being done in Matthew's name is far from over. This Tuesday offers a great opportunity to continue that work by voting for equality, for compassion, for humanity, for the environment, for justice. Thanks to Uprising Theatre Company for sharing the spirit of Matthew Shepard by presenting THE LARAMIE CYCLE at this moment in time.