In October 1998, Matthew Shepard,  a 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student, was found outside Laramie, Wyo., tied to a fence, beaten and unconscious. He died five days later. Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney were arrested and convicted of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and second-degree murder.

In the weeks following the murder, Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie, and over the course of the next year, conducted more than 200 interviews with people of the town. From these interviews, as well as journal entries by members of the company, they wrote the play “The Laramie Project,” a chronicle of life in the town of Laramie during the year after Shepard’s murder. 

On Feb. 14, 15 and 16, Whitefish High School Drama will add its name to the long list of U.S. high school theater programs that have performed “The Laramie Project” to raise awareness of issues surrounding hate crimes.

The play is directed by head drama Coach Kelliann Blackburn and Assistant Coach Wendy McFadden. The entire cast and crew of “The Laramie Project” is proud of the journey they have embraced to prepare such an emotional and powerful production. 

The audience will be inspired to reflect on a myriad of vital and timely issues, including the nature of tolerance, acceptance and pluralism; the meaning of community; and the struggle to overcome hate, bigotry and violence in a way that “tries to put us all in touch with our common humanity,” Kaufman says. 

The show starts at 7 p.m. all three nights. “The Laramie Project” will be staged at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $8 for adults or $5 for students, available at the door. Due to language and sensitive issues, the show may not be suitable for young children.

In this ensemble production, Hunter Cripe, Saige Perchy, Kate Ehrenberg, Jon Jacobs, Sam Benkelmen, Spencer Hale, Sloan Ellis, Emma Nixon, Branson Faustini, JJ Harris, Che Roussel, and Claire Venery all play multiple roles. Backstage are student Director Abigail Blake, technical manager Michael Voisin, backstage manager Holden Roberts, Spenser Eaton on lights, Waylon Roberts on media, Brandon Fuehrer and Jordan Brist on sound, Zach Blumhardt, Tavia Wood and Kaela Metcalf on sets and props, and Gwen Meske and Megan Nielsen on costumes. 

The high school production is a prelude for Whitefish Theatre Company’s upcoming Black Curtain production of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” which will be staged May 4 and 5 at the O’Shaughnessy Center.