Emmy nominee Samira Wiley, CNN host Anderson Cooper, Olympic skater Adam Rippon, YouTube star Randy Rainbow, and Asia Kate Dillon have joined Laramie: A Legacy, the September 24 benefit reading of The Laramie Project, to honor the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard, who was brutally attacked in an anti-gay hate crime on October 7, 1998. The 21-year-old college student later died from his injuries.
They join a previously announced lineup including Tony Award winners Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig), Mary-Louise Parker (Proof), and Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), as well as members of the Tectonic Theater Project who premiered the play in 2000.
Read: NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, MARY-LOUISE PARKER, AND BILLY PORTER WILL BE PART OF LARAMIE PROJECT’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Laramie: A Legacy will bring together guest artists and members of the original Laramie Project company, who traveled from New York to Laramie, Wyoming, to conduct interviews with the people of the town. These interviews formed the basis of The Laramie Project, which has become one of the most performed contemporary plays in the world.
Tectonic Theater Project founder and Artistic Director Moisés Kaufman will direct the benefit reading at John Jay College. Cooper will host the benefit reception.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation and Tectonic Theater Project have also partnered to film a PSA video also featuring Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song), Emmy Award nominee Zachary Quinto (The Boys in the Band), Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (Sunday in the Park with George), Bridget Moynahan (Blue Bloods), Raul Castillo (Looking), and Obie Award winner Michael Urie (Torch Song). They will be joined by Judy and Dennis Shepard, Matthew Shepard's parents.
The video will be released in the weeks leading up to Laramie: A Legacy.
For tickets, visit Laramielegacy.org.
