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 you to the actors of this production and get some insight into The Laramie Project. This, is Steve Gamba…
Steve is happy to have the opportunity to be a part of The Auburn Players’ production of The Laramie Project for the second time. Steve most recently appeared in workshops of The Girl in the Red Dress, and All Dressed Up with No Place to Go at The Redhouse Arts Center. Other recent appearances include “The Arbiter” in Chess with CNY Playhouse, and “Bud” in Appleseed’s production of The Bridges of Madison County. He received Syracuse Area Live Theater Award (SALT) nominations for his portrayals of “Carl Magnus” in A Little Night Music, And “Sheriff Dodd” in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other favorites include “John Dickinson” in 1776, “Carl Hanratty” in Catch Me If You Can, “Dennis / Galahad” in Spamalot , the title role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, “Harold Hill” in The Music Man, “Cornelius Hakl” in Hello Dolly!, “Fred / Petrucchio” in Kiss Me Kate, “Danny” in Baby, “Cinderella’s Prince” in Into the Woods “Melchior” in Amahl and the Night Visitors, “Sky Masterson” in Guys and Dolls, “Jinx” in Forever Plaid, “The Baker” in Into the Woods, “George” in Same Time, Next Year, “Max” in Lend Me a Tenor, and “Thomas Andrews” in Titanic: The Musical.
In 2001 and 2003, he was a featured soloist at The Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent four summers in the North Georgia Mountains working with Southern Appalachian Stages on The Reach of Song, which is the official historic drama of the State of Georgia. He composed the vocal arrangements for their original production of The Far Blue Mountains and also originated the role of “Karl.” In 2009, he was nominated for a Metropolitan Atlanta Theater Award for excellence in choreography.
Steve currently teaches music in Auburn, where he is the choral director at Auburn High School.
What characters do you play in the show?
I play Phillip DuBois, Moises Kaufman, Jon Peacock, Stephen Mead Johnson, Gil Engen, Rob DeBree, Murdock Cooper, Harry Woods, Priest, Judge, Dennis Shepard
What made you want to do this play?
Playing Rob DeBree in the show, I speak the line “This is America. You don’t have the right to feel that fear.” Unfortunately, there are people who believe that we should feel that fear. I am writing this on October 6th and tomorrow the Supreme Court is going to decide if one can be fired for being LGBTQ. Tomorrow. In 2019. In America. More than thirty years of progress is at risk. I hope as you are reading this, that progress has been preserved. Today, however I have fear because there are people in this country that believe that I should feel that fear for simply existing. The voices of these people are being enabled to be more and more powerful, and are getting louder.
So, I am taking part in telling this story. Because I believe that our voices, the voices of love and acceptance are louder and more powerful than the voices of bigotry and hate.
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, Steve! We look forward to catching you and your fellow cast members this weekend. Stay tuned for more cast interviews!
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