A month after Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998, New York’s Tectonic Theater Project trekked down there and conducted interviews with hundreds of locals—including those close to the family of the victim and perpetrators—to try and understand why such a horrific hate crime could have occurred. The result was The Laramie Project, a jarring, heartrending play that interspersed dozens of those interviews with journal entries from Tectonic members. Fast forward, ten years later: The Laramie Project became something of a national phenomenon, easily one of the most performed productions of the past decade. HBO even made a film adaptation of it in 2002, starring Laura Linney, Peter Fonda, and Steve Buscemi. more ›

Austin's Q Program is staging The Laramie Project this weekend and next. Tonight's opening promises a post-performance gala with hors d'eouvres and other treats from Central Market. It's your chance to nosh with the cast and crew, and to discuss what will doubtless be an intense and moving experience. more ›