FORT WORTH, Texas — In 1998 the eyes of the world were riveted on Laramie, Wyo., following the kidnapping and brutal beating of Matthew Shepard. The 21-year-old University of Wyoming student was targeted because he was gay. He suffered four skull fractures and a crushed brain stem and died six days later.
Following the murder and during the trial of the two men accused in the killing, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project in New York City made six trips to Laramie to conduct more than 200 interviews. Some of the respondents were connected to the case and others were only residents. “Fascinating,” Playbill said of their reactions.
These interviews and the theater members’ experiences came together to form The Laramie Project, a “breathtaking collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.”
March 5 that collage comes to Tarrant County College Northeast, 828 W. Harwood Road, Hurst 76054. The Northeast Drama Playhouse will present the play through March 8 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee March 8.
Director Jakie Cabe, who also directed the play at TCC Northeast 21 years ago, says what keeps him coming back to it is the “ever constant message of hope, compassion and commitment to telling the story directly from the words and lives of the people who were there.”
He considers the play “a master class for an actor to play between five and eight characters in the span of a few hours.”
Cast members include Brooks Gentry, Lynn Sill, Kaitlin Bridges, Luke Englehardt, J.J. Mille, Ethan Cox, Cas Wheatley, Caliana Graham, Aubrey Jones, Lubna AbuRaideh, Lucas Fuentes and John Patterson.
Tickets
• TCC students, faculty and staff: free
• Non-TCC students and senior citizens: $3
• General public: $6
Purchase tickets online in advance.
All shows are general admission seating.
Season Productions for Northeast Campus — TCC
Celebrating 60 years of excellence and impact in 2025, Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.