Theatre Horizon to Commemorate 20 Year Anniversary of Matthew Shepard's Murder with THE LARAMIE PROJECT Reading

Twenty years ago, in October 1998, an openly gay college student named Matthew Shephard was kidnapped, beaten, and left tied to a fence on the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. A month later, a troupe of actors descended among the town to interview residents and probe the motives behind the murder. What resulted is a riveting series of snapshots that reveal a town grappling with the truth of unmasked hatred, The Laramie Project. Norristown, Pennsylvania's Theatre Horizon (401 will present the work in a commemorative staged reading for three performances only, September 28-30, 2018.

The Laramie Project has became one of the most-performed plays in America, and in 2005 it was Theatre Horizon's very first production. To honor Shepard's legacy, reflect on the victories achieved over the last 20 years in LGBTQ+ rights, and recharge for the work still to come, the company presents an all-star Philadelphia cast in a staged reading of the play that teaches tolerance for a country where bigotry is once again on the rise. The play will be directed by Theatre Horizon favorite, Kathryn MacMillan. Full casting will be announced at a later date.

Single tickets are currently on sale at theatrehorizon.org. Tickets are $20, $15 for educators and students.

Theatre Horizon brings Philadelphia's finest professional actors and artists to Norristown to present compelling, contemporary theatre. Founded in 2005, Theatre Horizon has become a lauded contributor to the arts in Montgomery County, staging a critically-acclaimed season annually, reaching over 950 children each year through our drama classes and camps, and pioneering an autism drama program that inspires imagination and social development in individuals on the autism spectrum. These programs are the building blocks of our Theatre Horizon community in which all participants are encouraged to grow. Our offerings provide opportunities to understand unfamiliar perspectives, discuss common struggles, and simply enjoy a good story together. We produce professional productions of thoughtful and inspiring plays and musicals. "Top-quality Theater is no longer confined to Center City," proclaimed the Philadelphia Inquirer when we opened our new venue in 2012. In recognition of our work, Theatre Horizon was recently awarded a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and received the American Theatre Wing's National Theatre Company Award-one of only twelve companies in the nation to be honored with this prestigious award from the organization that presents the Tonys each year. We invite you to join us for a performance and discover Theatre Horizon yourself. More at theatrehorizon.org.