“The Laramie Project” and “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” tell the powerful story surrounding college student Matthew Shepard and the impact his murder had on the town of Laramie a year later and decade later. Both plays, created by Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project, will be presented by the Jewish Community Center Performing Arts Series. Performances of the “The Laramie Project” will take place on April 21, 26, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. and April 29 and May 6 at 2 p.m.; “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” performances are April 22 at 4:30 p.m. and April 28, 29, May 3 at May 6 at 7:30 p.m. The ensemble cast includes eight local actors who portray numerous roles throughout the plays.
These productions will help educate theater-goers about the real life struggle of self-identity and how hate can affect their everyday lives. And JCC Performing Arts Series has come up with a unique way using social media to bring the public into this very important discussion.
Inspired by the YouTube video sensation, “My Secrets,” DID YOU KNOW? is a video project designed to compile and present the personal thoughts of youths and adults in our community and to increase awareness of diversity, compassion and acceptance. Whether it’s sexual preference or identity, political beliefs and philosophies, or simple secrets about loving peanut butter just a bit too much, this project is intended to provide a safe, artistic outlet in revealing stories that you might otherwise never reveal.
JCC Cultural Arts Coordinator Samantha Agron came up with the idea of using YouTube and nonverbal communication to convey information and share it with others. Through this project, the JCC hopes it will have contributed to educating the community about acceptance, which may help to eliminate hate, one story at a time.
So how can you be part of the action? Participants are asked to prepare pre-written notecards revealing information about themselves that people otherwise would not know about them. The participant will remain silent, and only communicate their story by holding up the notecards in front of the camera. It is up to the participant to decide whether they would like their face shown in the piece, or if they would like to stay anonymous. These videos will be set to music and will be posted onto The White Theatre Facebook Page (facebook.com/thewhitetheatre) as well as The White Theatre YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/TheWhiteTheatre).
If you would like to participate, please contact Samantha Agron, Cultural Arts Coordinator, at 913-327-4646 or Samanthaa@jewishkc.org. Videotaping must be completed by April 15. You may set up an appointment to video tape at The Jewish Community Center or you may record your video on your own and send us the link and/or the file.
