Controversial Play Showcases at University of Indianapolis

Theater
By IndyStar Reporter Reagan Van Cleave
April 19, 2016 1:00 p.m.
The University of Indianapolis, a small liberal
arts college located on the city's south
side, will begin their production of The
Laramie Project, the infamous western
hate crime trial, Thursday April 21 at 8
p.m. The production will run two
consecutive weekends beginning April
22-24 and April 28-30 in the Ransburg
Auditorium located in Esch Hall.
Picture courtesy of UIndy.edu/Theatre

The University has made recent news concerning a human rights movement guided by the
Students for Justice in Palestine group on campus to divest in products manufactured in Israel.
The movement is preceded by the devastating warfare occurring in Israel between the Israelis
and Palestinians. The movement has divided the university and led to various hate crimes taking
place on the school's campus, including the racist drawings on a diversity exhibit in the college's
student center.
The Laramie Project by Emmy nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman and the
members of the Tectonic Theater Project was originally produced in New York City at the Union
Square Theatre in 2000. The play is based on the true story of a homosexual American student
from the University of Wyoming who was tortured and left to die near the rural town of Laramie,
Wyoming in October of 1998. The format of the production is unlike any that the University has
ever done, in what Time Magazine calls "A pioneering work of theatrical reportage and a
powerful stage event."
The production recreates Kaufman's and his member's five weeks spent in Laramie following
the incident in which they conducted over 200 interviews with people of the town. Kaufman and
the Tectonic Theater project conducted research over a year-and-a-half that would try to
determine if the crime committed against the student was based on his sexual orientation.
The University of Indianapolis Theatre Department has received much criticism for the timing of
this emotionally heated production. However, department faculty couldn't be more proud.

"When it was announced late last year that we as a department would be finishing our season
with The Laramie Project, I'll admit I was absolutely ecstatic," said Assistant Director Josh
Kruze. "I knew that we had a grand opportunity to do something that could potentially shift the
conversation, and our place in it [...] we strove to make this an unforgettable experience for the
audience, in memory of a story that is forever etched into history."
In February of this year, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 220 that "would allow a court to
consider tougher sentences for anyone convicted of a crime motivated by a victim's age, race
religion, gender, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation." The bill was later dismissed
due to "a lack of time."
Indiana State Senator Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) comments "Hoosiers don't believe we're biased
or prejudiced, so they're reluctant to put in statute that maybe we are."
In 2013 Indiana logged 75 hate crime incidents, among 5,928 across the nation. "There are just
real strong philosophical differences about inclusion in our state right now," says State
Representative Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis).
Tickets for The Laramie Project can be purchased online at
http://uindyarts.universitytickets.com/ or at the event ticketing center located on the first floor of
Ransburg Auditorium Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Tickets are
$12/ person and free for University of Indianapolis students.