The Laramie Project opens this week at The Auburn Public Theater in Downtown, Auburn. 

Nine actors play over 60 roles in this unique play about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.   The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming

This week, we will introduce to the actors of this production and get some insight into The Laramie Project.

And now, meet Fran Bruno:

What characters do you play in the show?

I play Doc O’Connor, Stephen Belber, Matt Galloway, Bill McKinney, Andrew Gomez, Conrad, Miller, Juror and Narrator

Tell us a little about your background:

I was in Auburn Players production of “Hair” in 2014.  I was also cast in “All’s Well That Ends Well,” directed by Nick Bessette in the summer 2015.  Then I took a break from acting and took to roles behind the camera in many student films at SUNY Purchase, graduating this past May with a Bachelors in Playwriting/Screenwriting.

What drew you to take part in this play?

With no more than a motive of hate, this play shows the true gruesomeness of humanity. The painful truth, with relevancy that still grows in today’s society. This happened, this happens, and unfortunately this will continue to happen. It’s an honor to get to be a part of a presentation built by a company that isn’t afraid to show who we really are through fact… to tell a story that is as a real and authentic as this.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (October 10, 11, & 12) at 7:30pm at The Auburn Public Theater.  Tickets are $10 (senior/student) & $15 (general admission), and may be purchased by visiting www.auburnpublictheater.org or by calling the box office at 315-253-6669.

Thanks, Fran — we look forward to catching you and your fellow cast members this weekend. Stay tuned for more cast interviews!