‘The Laramie Project’ at Theatre Out in Fullerton

April 27, 12:18 PMLA/OC Theatre ExaminerJordan Young

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The newspaper business may be on its death bed, but journalism is thriving—at least on stage. The Laramie Project, a theatrical collage about the kidnapping and murder of college student Matthew Shepard, has been hugely successful since it debuted in 2000. It’s been so widely staged that one prominent Orange County director has suggested it be put in storage for a while.

Theatre Out felt nonetheless compelled to offer the play (created by Moisés Kaufman and members of the NYC-based Tectonic Theater Project) as their final production at the Hunger Artists Theatre in Fullerton, where it runs through May 24. I asked director Darcy Hogan what drew her to the play.

"Discrimination infuriates me, and has from a very young age,” says Hogan. “I've never understood how a person chooses to hate or think less of another person based upon the color of their skin, their religion or who they choose to love. I think it comes down to the influences a person is exposed to, and the education (or lack thereof) that a person receives. So, any play that strives to convey a message of love, understanding and tolerance is something I'm anxious to be a part of.

"Though I knew of the play and its subject matter, I had never actually read or seen the play when Theatre Out approached me and asked me to direct it. Once I read it, I got very excited about what could be done with it. I think the fact that I've never seen it staged works in my favor--I have no underlying, preconceived notions of how it ‘should’ be done.”

As previously reported here, Theatre Out is moving into Rude Guerrilla’s old digs at The Empire Theatre in Santa Ana, where they plan to open May 29th with Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Rude Guerrilla has evolved into the Monkey Wrench Collective, which now expects to debut in January 2010, location TBA.