NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Niagara Pride and the Western Door Playhouse will hold staged readings of the 'Laramie Project,' a play by Moisés Kaufman this weekend.
The event commemorates the 15 anniversary of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act becoming federal law.
Matthew Shepard was an openly gay college student who was beaten to death in Wyoming back in 1998. The 'Laramie Project' explores the community's response to Shepard's murder.
"We're going to be doing a stripped-down version of the show. It's a little different than what anyone may have seen before... because I wanted them to be able to hear every word," said Kerri Lynn Kratz, the director.
"There's no audio clips, there's very minimal lighting. It's very much just about hearing what these people had to say."
The law was signed by former President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009.
"Growing up in a time where this event actually happened, it had a profound impact on my life, to be an LGBTQ activist and do this type of work in the community," said Ronald Piaseczny, President and co-founder of Niagara Pride.
Piaseczny added that he hopes younger generations can learn from the story.
"This kind of stuff, it happens, it happens everywhere and it's still happening and I want them to walk away, you know, just thinking about erasing hate and just loving each other for who you are," Kratz said.
The next show is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 17, at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center.