Talk:The Laramie Project

The Play vs The Reality

• • I think it should be noted that this page is about the play, "The Laramie Project" and not about whether or not the murder of Matthew Shepard was modivated by homophobia or drugs. The Matthew Shepard case is something all together different from this play. This play is simply an account of the town of Laramie at this time and the reactions of the people therein. Whether the premise of the play is factual or not is irrelevant in theatrical discussions of this work.69.149.155.196 05:09, 5 December 2006 (UTC) T. Goss69.149.155.196 05:06, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

No, I think how accurate the play is, does matter for the article. And I should add that there is some criticism of the narrative: http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/current-issue/2013/09/13/have-we-got-matthew-shepard-all-wrong?page=full --41.151.105.56 (talk) 23:19, 6 January 2014 (UTC)

Changes to the Opening Paragraph

I altered the lines where the play is "about the reaction to the 1998 homophobic murder of Matthew Shepard. Shepard was beaten to death in Laramie, Wyoming in a methamphetamine deal gone bad, by a bisexual" to its current form since there's quite a bit of controversy (to say the least) about whether homophobia or methamphetamines played a part in the murder. On a personal level, I'm very skeptical about the drugs claim since it was introduced after the fact (post-trial). If anyone has any problems, I'm definitely willing to discuss. ProfessorFokker 10:48, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Protests

Does the picketing even warrant mention? I'm sure there have been lots of protests of lots of different plays/films/etc throughout history, but we don't normally mention them. Anticipating that some might say that this is a special case because the one protesting is actually mentioned in the work, I would point that the article does not include references to what everyone else in the film has been up to lately.... Why does this one person merit special attention? 66.171.120.115 22:28, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

- This one person being the violently anti-homosexual Michael Phelps, who has made it one of his primary goals to defame the play as "fag" and to discredit Kaufman's depiction of Shepard's death? The Phelps who has picketed, according to the article on him, nearly every US production of the play? I think this sort of obsessive response to the play bears mention. Windupcanary July 2 2006

- Michael Phelps is an Olympic swimmer. Fred Phelps is the preacher. 66.171.120.115 19:51, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

"Playbill" and School-kid theatricals

Is this article just an ongoing list tiny amateur theatricals? I'm sorry, but a "Playbill" of local high school performances all over the world---including self-promoting accolades--is NOT encyclopedic, nor particularly noteworthy for anyone who's not a citizen of Anywheresmalltown (Pop. 2000). I am going to delete all the high school & college performances section soon, unless I see a solid argument why they should be included. 66.171.120.115 16:22, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

For some reason, this article seems to be a haven for kids who wish to broadcast their student productions. Many of these announcements have been deleted in the past; apparently, subsequent editors fail to grasp the point. It's great that your high school teacher has staged this play; it's great that you've been using this play to learn of the evils of homophobia; it's great that you, the actors, have shown such courage in participating. BUT, your local high school productions are not encyclopaedic. They are not worthy of inclusion. Please stop making such announcements. (As an additional point, the person who put up the "Recent News!" announcement of yet another minor production this month should really learn to write in English: you're not helping your case.)

I agree that the recent entry is self serving.I respect greatly what happened in Ocean County NJ, but it should be entered, perhaps, on the Wiki page for the school, not here. Regretfully, i am deleting it. Stagebear (talk) 20:57, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I believe in the contrary. We should have a running list of productions that were put on, to show that things are changing and these ideas are spreading. If we can get a show in a certain area of an area that usually doesn't think in ways that Laramie Project has explored that is a victory. And we, in my opinion, need more victories like this. Darbygrl (talk) 18:35, 12 December 2010 (UTC)

Film

I've created an article for the film at The Laramie Project (film). Belovedfreak 22:00, 23 February 2007 (UTC)