Matthew Shepard News

In October of 1998 Matthew Shepard, a twenty-one-year-old University student was kidnapped, beaten, and left to die on a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. The reason for his killing: he was gay. One of the first murders to be labeled a hate crime, it brought attention the lack of 'hate crime protection' several states possessed. Five weeks after his death, Moises Kaufman and other members of the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie and interviewed its citizens for a whole year after the event. This is the true story of how residents in Laramie, Wyoming reacted to the murder of Matthew Shepard.

This season's PlayFest lineup will be dedicated to new works that have a direct correlation to themes relating to the Pulse shooting that took place in Orlando on June 12, 2016. The groundbreaking new works will include Israel Horovitz's The Day Before Yesterday, Karen Zacarias'Native Gardens, Allison Gregory's Motherland, Lee Blessing's Minneapolis/St. Paul, and John Biguenet's Ever After.  

Just weeks before Matthew Shepard would have celebrated his 40th birthday, William Peace Theatre honors his life and the struggle of LGBTQ Americans with a special production of The Laramie Project, November 10 - 20, 2016.

Tectonic Theater Project has announced the performance lineup for Tectonic At 25!, a benefit performance celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking theater.

Building on the success of Investigation Discovery's (ID) acclaimed documentary series HATE IN AMERICA, the network announced, today on the anniversary of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act being signed into law - the launch of a new advocacy campaign, 'Stop Hate in Your State'

Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF invites audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust from November 3 - 6, 2016. This year's four-day event titled PlayFest: After Pulse will feature six new plays that explore issues surrounding the Pulse tragedy. Tickets to individual PlayFest readings ($10) may be purchased online at www.orlandoshakes.org, by phone at (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street). PlayFest Passes ($49) and PlayFest VIP Passes ($100) are on sale now and may be purchased by phone or in person.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman. The award will be presented Thursday, November 10, 2016 as part of the opening night celebration for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

When they began, they couldn't get married, serve openly in the military, adopt, or have federally recognized unions thanks to the brand new Defense of Marriage Act. Matthew Shepard was still alive. AIDs was still a serious threat. Ellen was in the closet and Will & Grace was two years away.

On September 9, 2016, Harmonia Mundi will release 'Considering Matthew Shepard,' composed and conducted by Grammy-winner Craig Hella Johnson, Founder and Artistic Director of Conspirare, Austin's acclaimed world-class professional choir.

Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble (VAE), the city's premier professional choral ensemble, announces the details of its 37th season, the fourth under Grammy Award-winning Music Director Craig Hella Johnson.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater (Orlando Shakes) in Partnership with UCF invites audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust from November 3 - 6, 2016. This year's four-day event titled PlayFest: After Pulse will feature six new plays that explore issues surrounding the Pulse tragedy.

On September 9, 2016, Harmonia Mundi will release 'Considering Matthew Shepard,' composed and conducted by Grammy-winner Craig Hella Johnson, Founder and Artistic Director of Conspirare, Austin's acclaimed world-class professional choir.

Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble (VAE), the city's premier professional choral ensemble, announces the details of its 37th season, the fourth under Grammy Award-winning Music Director Craig Hella Johnson.

See 'STRUCK' at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch through July 31st. This intriguing show is written by Sandy Rustin, directed by Don Stephenson and features a stellar cast.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity helps close out Gay Pride Month with a reading of Marco Calvani's drama Maspeth, presented on Thursday, June 30 at 8pm at the Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street. The reading is directed by Shira-Lee Shalit, with a cast that includes Christina Toth, Evgeniya Radilova and Alexander Hodge. Joe Dolce, former editor in chief of Details and Star magazines and journalist for many of the world's leading publications, including The New York Times, is hosting a Talk Back session after the production.

Singer/Songwriter sensation Randi Driscoll calls together friends from Broadway to benefit up-and-coming actor-driven ensemble, The Seeing Place. The show, 'Reinvention' touches on the immense challenge put before us when life throws us struggles we're not sure we have the strength to face.

The World Premiere of STRUCK by Sandy Rustin is just around the corner. Previews begin next Thursday at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

When the infamous Westboro Baptist Church showed up to protest the funerals of the victims of this month's shooting at the gay bar Pulse in Orlando, the local theatre community rallied. Partnering with Angel Action Wings, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre and other volunteers wore linen wings to block Westboro's homophobic picketers from view while singing 'Amazing Grace.' Click below for a look at the counter-protest!

Malcontent Theatre Company is producing The Laramie Project, funded entirely by donations, with all proceeds supporting the victims of the Orlando shootings.  The show will be held on June 24th at 8:00 pm in the studio theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts.  There will be a reception with the cast at 7:00 in the lobby. 

The strategy to block mourners from having to see hate speech signs was used at the trials for the killers of Matthew Shepard.