Malibu High School will stage a production of “The Laramie Project” beginning Nov. 21, bringing the story of Laramie, Wyo., following the murder of Matthew Shepard to Malibu.
In October 1998, Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was kidnapped, severely beaten and tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie, where he was left to die.
Five weeks after Shepard’s murder, Moises Kaufman and Members of Tectonic Theatre Project began interviewing people in Laramie. After about a year and more than 200 interviews, they wrote the play to chronicle life in Laramie and reactions to the murder.
In preparation for the play, Malibu High launched an ERASE HATE Campaign, in which participants can tie an “ERASE HATE” ribbon to a “Peace Fence” to spread a message of tolerance.
The play opens Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Malibu High School Theatre. Additional performances will take place on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 at 7 p.m., and on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased online.