Niagara Pride, Western Door to bring 'Laramie Project' to WNY

Press Release

Commemorating 15 years since the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Act was passed into law, Niagara Pride and Western Door Playhouse will stage “The Laramie Project: A Staged Reading” at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center on Aug. 16-17.

“Niagara Pride is honored to bring ‘The Laramie Project’ to Western New York,” said Ronald Piaseczny, president of Niagara Pride Inc. “With 2024 marking the 15th anniversary of the passage of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, both of our organizations felt it was critically important to bring awareness to not only this law, but also the fact that the LGBTQ+ community continues to be a target of hate crimes in the United States. For the past few years, the number of hate crimes committed against the LGBTQ+ community has been on the rise.”

“The Laramie Project” is a play by Moisés Kaufman that explores a community’s reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, in Laramie, Wyoming. The play is constructed from hundreds of interviews with residents of Laramie and published news reports.

The murder of Matthew Shepard was a pivotal event that brought national attention to the issue of hate crimes and the absence of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming. The play has been performed across the U.S. and internationally, often used as an educational tool to discuss prejudice and tolerance. It has also inspired efforts to combat homophobia and has been involved in grassroots movements. “The Laramie Project” is significant not only as a work of art, but also as a social document that continues to resonate with audiences and communities, prompting discussions about hate, discrimination, and the need for change.

“The Laramie Project: A Staged Reading” will be on stage at 7:30 p.m. each night at the NACC, 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls. Tickets are $18 if purchased online, or $20 if purchased at the door. This event is a fundraiser for Niagara Pride. A portion of ticket sales, as well as proceeds of the basket raffle held both evenings, will go to Niagara Pride to support critically needed LGBTQ+ services in Niagara County and Western New York.

For more information about the production, or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.niagarapride.org/laramieprojectstagedreading.