The Moorestown Friends School winter play will feature two 10-year anniversaries. MFS is presenting the “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later,” an epilogue piece written 10 years after “The Laramie Project,” and this performance will be directed by drama teacher Mark Gornto, who directed the original MFS production 10 years ago.
MFS’ “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” will be performed on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. This piece is special not only because of the 10-year anniversaries, but because Andy Paris, one of the writers of the plays, will be visiting MFS on March 6 to speak after the performance. This will also be Gornto’s last production with MFS as he is moving to Ohio at the end of the school year.
“I feel as though there is a story that still needs to be told — and healing to accomplish. Much of what the play addresses is still relevant today and will be until equality is achieved. I directed the first part, the original ‘Laramie Project,’ in 2005, so this is our ’10 years later’ moment, too,” Gornto said.
“The Laramie Project” is a play written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. Ten years after Shepard’s murder, members of Tectonic Theater Project returned to Laramie to conduct follow-up interviews with residents featured in the play. Those interviews were turned into a companion piece entitled “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later.” The play consists of a number of interviews, compiled together in “moments,” during the company members’ return visit to Laramie 10 years after the original play. This epilogue tracks what has, or has not, changed in the town 10 years after the murder.
“It is interesting that this play is not just a story, but different people’s moments,” said senior David White, who is playing a retired cop and a conservative Republican.
“It is very interesting to see the effects that this crime and the aftermath had on his friends, family, the community, the murderers themselves and even people he only met a few times,” said senior Brandon Beach, who is playing one of Shepard’s murderers.
The cast of the show felt “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” is an important piece, not only because of the issues of hate crime, gay marriage and laws, but because this is all based on the real facts and people involved. Everything in the play is based on interviews the Tectonic Theater Project conducted, showing both sides of the story and how the afterward affected Laramie.
“They show the other side, they show that they are normal people, they aren’t just evil. I feel like this show is not written in an opinionated way; this is everyone’s opinions. You’ll learn opinions, truths and facts, but you need to decide for yourself what you feel about it,” said senior Pilar Martinez, who is playing two women, one being gay.
Martinez also said she was there for the original performance of “The Laramie Project” at MFS and it is what got her into theater. She felt the performance was breathtaking and really showed her what it took to be an actor.
“I do love the show. I was here when they did the original ‘Laramie Project’ and I can tell you, it was very moving, which made me very excited to work on this show,” Martinez said.
The rehearsal process began in January, so they didn’t have much time to get everything together. However, the performance is coming together very well.
“I think it is coming along really well, especially with the snow and everything. We only did a few rehearsals working on each individual scene before going into running the show. I think it is going to make for a really good opening night. The actors are incredible, especially that some of us are playing parts that we may not necessarily agree with. It really is a testament to the talent of this school,” said senior Jackie Sackstein, who is playing two different roles.
During one of their rehearsals, Paris came to MFS to speak with the cast about the script and the moments of the performance. The cast felt his visit was helpful, and they were happy for the experience and are also happy for him coming to their opening night.
“Having Andy here for opening night of our production gives the audience an even more intimate connection to the play — and the chance to continue the dialogue with Andy. I am very grateful for his work with us,” Gornto said.
Gornto would like audience members to create conversations after seeing the show.
“I just think this show is so important and I’m grateful that Mr. Gornto isn’t afraid to take on the challenge of these important issues that can be very difficult to talk about. I think you have to look at the dark parts of human nature to really learn from it, and I think Mr. Gornto does a very good job of doing that; he’s not afraid to talk about these issues,” said senior Luke Bianco,who is playing one of Shepard’s murderers as well as a Republican with a gay daughter. “I think this show forces the audience to focus on these ideas because history can repeat itself, and if we don’t learn from it, then it’s just going to happen again.”
“The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” will be performed at the MFS auditorium on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. All tickets are $12. Parental discretion is advised as the performance contains mature-themed subject matter and instances of strong language. For tickets, visit www.mfriends.org/ laramie-ten-years-later/.
