FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
Trinity Wheeler, Director
(903) 780-0799
Chris Abraham, Producer
(903) 363-6396
APRIL 12, 2010
TYLER CIVIC THEATRE AND THE LARAMIE PROJECT IN THE BALANCE
The previously announced production of The Laramie Project at Tyler Civic Theatre in Tyler, TX may be halted due to the concerns of a very small number of the theatre’s Board of Directors, putting in jeopardy the production of the acclaimed and important piece of American theatre.
A month after the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, the members of Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie and conducted interviews with the people of the town. From these interviews they wrote the play, which has become one of the most performed plays in America in the last decade. The company later made the play into a film for HBO. The play and the movie combined have been seen by more than 50 million people around the world.
Tyler Civic Theatre’s The Laramie Project is directed by former Tyler resident, Trinity Wheeler, who returns to East Texas to helm the production. He has been away from Tyler for over 10 years working as a stage manager and his credits include the national tours of The Producers, Oklahoma!, The Wedding Singer, Rent, Singin’ in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz. The Laramie Project was to be a joint venture with Tyler Civic Theatre and Project TAG (Tyler Area Gays).
The production was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors in March and after a few letters of concern to the theatre from Tyler citizens, select Board members are withdrawing their approval of the production. Chris Abraham, Board of Directors member and Producer, and Trinity Wheeler were made aware on Thursday that a Board member had called the theatre’s webmaster to have the production information removed from the Tyler Civic Theatre web site. The call to remove the information was not approved by the Board of Directors as a whole.
Director Trinity Wheeler responded to the removal of the information with, “The goal of The Laramie Project is to promote thoughtful discussion and give audiences the opportunity to hear from a wide variety of Laramie residents and those most associated with the murder of Matthew Shepard. The erroneous information being used to attack this play demonstrates the need for the exact kind of education that is provided in the play.”
Wheeler continued, “I grew up in Tyler and am honored to bring this production to East Texas. The play examines crimes of hate, something that happens in every town in America. The Tyler community experienced a hate crime in 1993 with the murder of Nicholas West, a gay man that was taken from Bergfeld park and shot numerous times. The Laramie Project is about a community coming together and healing as a group in the same way Tyler did after the West murder. Texas has had so many crimes motivated by hate directed at people for their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and other factors. This is a play that can help create the kind of dialogue needed to end the hate.”
Auditions for the production were held at the end of March and a cast of 18 actors was assembled. The acting company includes Allison Pharr of Flint; William Howell of Lindale; Chris Abraham, Coby Archa (who recently appeared as a cast member of TV’s “Survivor”), Dillon Dudley, Sean Holliday, Connie Jackson, Thomas Kearnes, Johnny Loughridge, Cecily Luft, Hannah Morris, Russell McCook, Jolie Smith, Michael Ward, Samantha Winn, Spencer Young and Megan Younger, all of Tyler; and Frances Whiteside of Whitehouse.
Wheeler added, “I’m disheartened by the move of these few Board members. Tyler Civic Theatre has an opportunity to expand its reach in the community with this production. The theatre has been struggling financially due to dwindling season ticket holders and this production would set a high production standard and draw a new audience to ensure the theatre’s future.” The production has a Facebook Fan Page that within one week has over 260 fans from the community. “People are excited about this project and the support has been widespread,” Wheeler said. The production is currently scheduled to open at Tyler Civic Theatre on June 17 and play for 3 performances.
There will be a board meeting at the theatre on Tuesday, April 13 to vote on the fate of the play. Members of the media are being encouraged by The Laramie Project team to attend and await the Board’s decision.
“On June 17, there will be a production of The Laramie Project in Tyler. We are currently regrouping with the cast, staff and Project TAG. Our hope is that we will present this production at Tyler Civic Theatre, but a cancellation decision by the Board of Directors will not stop this production. The Tyler community will have the opportunity to see this play for themselves, no matter what the Board decides, we will ensure it is produced so that truth and dialogue prevail,” concluded Wheeler.
Visit The Laramie Project – Tyler Civic Theatre Fan Page on Facebook.
