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 Kristie Gutierrez
Tell us a little about your background: I moved here from Quinter, Kansas in 2014, and have been enjoying performing wherever I can. I am the oldest of seven children, and a proud Aunt to an adorable niece, Annalia. Previous Players credits include: Of Mice and Men, Ordinary People, Animal Farm, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Favorite Credits include: Baby With The Bathwater, The Effect of Gamma Rays, Rent, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, and most recently, The Laramie Project.
What characters do you play in the show? I play Amanda Gronich, Eileen Engen, Waitress, Reporter, Narrator, Ensemble, Cal Rerucha, Shannon, Foreperson, Kerry Drake, Kristin Price
What made you want to do this play? I remember being introduced to this story while visiting McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas. The college was the only place in Kansas to read the epilogue of the show the same night that it opened in New York City. Following the reading, they live streamed Moises Kaufman into the theater for a talk about the piece itself afterwards. I remember leaving the discussion thinking, “at least we have grown to be more tolerant of these things.”
But have we? This show may be set in 1998, but there have been at least 18 murders of our transgender brothers and sisters from the LGBTQ community, this year ALONE. We still have members of the LGBTQ community, many being of color, being murdered in the streets, in their yards, in their homes, year after year. And why? Some, because they are simply existing.
Like Matthew Sheppard, they were honest and proud of who they were, and they were killed out of hatred. It is our responsibility, especially if we want to call ourselves Allies, to take action, and put an end to discrimination and homophobic views. If you hear homophobic or hate speech, shut it down. Report it. Refuse to tolerate it. DO SOMETHING.
Until we can put an end to hate, we cannot call ourselves free and equal people; we cannot call ourselves brave if we refuse to be brave.
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, Kristie — we look forward to catching you and your fellow cast members this weekend. Stay tuned for more cast interviews!
PS – Kristie would like to thank her loved ones for the constant support, and her boyfriend, Ethan Hinton, for his constant encouragement and love. A special thanks to Elisa Carabajal Hunt for trusting us to bring these characters to life with authenticity; for allowing us to find our own voices for the characters, and your graceful guidance throughout the whole process. A huge thank you to the cast and crew. This has been one of my most memorable experiences, and I am so honored to share this night with all of you!
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