The Matthew Shepard Foundation will mark the 30th birthday of the late Matthew Shepard by honoring The Laramie Project, one of the world's most acclaimed pieces of theater and film, on December 1, 2006. Under the direction of playwright Moises Kaufman, a staged reading of The Laramie Project will be performed in New York by a full cast of actors including Judith Light, Robert Desiderio, Chad Allen, and Van Hansis of As The World Turns. In addition, the evening will include a live musical performance by Cyndi Lauper.

The Laramie Project opened almost seven years ago and has since been produced over 5,000 times by schools, community theaters, faith-based organizations and mainstream theater groups. Internationally recognized, the play has made an impact on countless individuals as it recounts the reactions by the citizens of Laramie, Wyoming to 21-year-old Matthew's tragic death. As a result of its success, Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project will receive the Matthew Shepard Foundation's "Making a Difference" award. The foundation's executive director Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother, will present the honor.

"The most touching stories we have received were written after an individual has experienced a production of The Laramie Project," said Shepard. "I am continually inspired to see how participating in or even viewing [it] invokes the kind of emotion and passion it takes to begin the process of erasing hate." Shepard and her husband, Dennis, established the foundation in October 1998 and continue to emphasize their mission of replacing hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance.

The event will be held at the Town Hall Theater in New York City. To purchase tickets and learn more about the reading, visit the official site of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Official site:
http://www.matthewshepard.org/

Press Release:
'Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor 'The Laramie Project'"
http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=LPBenefit_Main_Page&JServSessionIdr007=bm1eewhwi1.app13b