Casting is now set for Audible Theater's 25th anniversary readings of The Laramie Project—written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project in response to the brutal 1998 murder of 21-year-old gay man Matthew Shepard.
Directed by Tectonic Founder and Artistic Director Kaufman, performances will be held Off-Broadway at Audible's Minetta Lane Theatre December 4 at 7 PM, December 5 at 7 PM, and December 6 at 2 PM and 7 PM. The production will also be recorded live and subsequently released as an Audible Original.
The newly announced cast includes Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America), Midori Francis (Dash & Lily), Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening), Pooya Mohseni (English), Kal Penn (Designated Survivor, Harold & Kumar), Conrad Ricamora (Oh, Mary!; Here Lies Love), Ethan Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants, Wicked films), and Samira Wiley (Orange Is the New Black, upcoming Proof revival).
Following the murder in the college town of Laramie, Wyoming, members of Tectonic Theater Project wove together over 200 voices from the community in a tapestry of grief, reflection, and ultimately, hope.
Since its premiere at The Denver Center Theater Company in 2000, The Laramie Project has become one of the most frequently performed plays in America, inspiring generations of audience members through professional, amateur, and school productions as well as a 2002 HBO film adaptation. The production also furthered social and political change with the 2009 enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The creative team for the upcoming readings will also include lighting designer David Lander, sound designer Brian Ronan, video designer John Narun, scenic consultant Robert Brill, composer Peter Golub, and casting director Stephanie Yankwitt.
Frank Lombardi is the production stage manager, and Eloia Peterson is the assistant stage Manager. Theatrical supervision is by Beacon Theatrical Services with general management by ShowTown Theatricals.
Tickets are on sale now at AudiblexMinetta.com.
