Montana Western and Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series Present “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later”
November 17, 2025
The University of Montana Western’s Theatre Program and the Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series are excited to present "The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later" on Wednesday, December 3, and Thursday, December 4, in UMW’s Beier Auditorium.
A direct sequel to The Laramie Project, this bold new work asks the question: How does society write its own history?
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 near death. Six days later, Matthew Shepard passed away at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.
On November 14, 1998, ten members of the Tectonic Theater Project traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, and conducted interviews with local residents. Over the next year, the company returned six times, completing more than 200 interviews. These texts became the basis for the play The Laramie Project.
Ten years later, on September 12, 2008, five members of Tectonic returned to Laramie to explore the long-term impact of the tragedy. They found a town wrestling with its legacy and its place in history. In addition to revisiting many of the individuals whose words shaped the original play, the company also spoke with Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard, as well as the two murderers, McKinney and Henderson.
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later was written by Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, and Stephen Belber, and is directed by Stephen Alan Seder, Beatrice Penn, Adeline Michels, and Kendel Puccinelli. The production is brought to life by students from THTR 276: Play Production and features Christina Scruggs (former cast member of the Virginia City Players and the Brewery Follies) in the role of Romaine Patterson and the Narrator.
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later will include 30+ cast members, featuring UMW students, faculty, staff, and Dillon community members.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, and Thursday, December 4, in the Beier Auditorium located in Main Hall.
PG-13 Advisory: This production is recommended for audiences aged 13 and older. It contains mature themes, language, and situations that may be unsuitable for younger viewers. Parental guidance is advised.
To purchase tickets, please visit the BOC Performing Arts Series Box Office webpage. Admission is $16 for general seating, $12 for seniors (65+), youth (18 & under), and military, $10 for UMW faculty/staff, and free for UMW students with a valid student ID.
For more information, please contact Assistant Professor of Theatre Stephen Seder at [email protected] or 406-683-7038. Learn more about UMW Theatre and upcoming performances.
