sou T H CAROLINA
SX/s Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
presents ’Laramie Project’
Director Dan Day talks about
impact on students
GREENVILLE — Set for Nov. 16-19 at the
South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts
and Humanities, “The Laramie Project” is
based on more than 200 interviews Moises
Kaufman and New York’s Tectonic Theatre
conducted in Laramie, after the murder of
Matthew Shepard. It follows and — in some
cases — re-enacts the chronology of
Shepherd’s visit to a local bar, his kidnap and
beating, the discovery of him tied to a fence,
the vigil at the hospital, his death and funeral
those people when I’m doing them. I like
Edith because it’s fun to be a kid and fidget
around and do things like kids do.
QN. Can you tell me the name of an
actor or actress that you’ve worked
with that has really
left you awestruck
with their capabili
ties?
LT. Meryl Streep is just
fantastic. Even in that
part in “Prarie Home
Companion.” I saw her
three times in “Prada.”
Bette Midler is incredi
ble. Steve Martin is a
really gifted comic per
former. Tom Waites, he
is so unto himself and
Lauren Bacall is amaz
ing! She’s 82. She was so
young when she started Lily Tomlin as Edith
so she has just about known everybody in
_ Hollywood history.
QN. I know you’re out. You know
you’re out. Why do you think so
many people just don’t seem to get
it?
LT. They either put it together or refuse
to put it together. 1 don’t know what
people think. Maybe I’m inarticulate or
something. I remember one time I was
on a talk show with Danny Thomas
and he was saying everybody should go
to Vietnam with Bob Hope. I said I
would prefer to go with Jane Fonda. So
Danny Thomas was all up in my face
screaming at me and my aunt had seen
it on television and said “oh that was so
cute.” Cute? I was trying to make a
political statement and Danny Thomas
was screaming at me. I just don’t think
because of the characters I’ve played
people put me together with politics. I
and the trial of his killers. It mixes news
reports with actors portraying friends, family,
cops, killers and other Laramie residents in
their own words.
For Dan Day, the acting and directing
instructor of this residential public high
school that serves 225 students, mostly aged
16-18, the undertaking of “The Laramie
Project” is an extremely important venture.
“It’s important for a number of reasons,” Day
explains. “It raises important questions about
sexuality, politics, class violence and how we
look at privileges versus rights. It raises impor
tant questions I want the students to think
about. It’s very fun and exciting to work on. As a
training vehicle it’s excellent for our kids.”
Day spent 18 years in Dallas, Texas, as
artistic director of Kitchen Dog Theatre in
Houston. He moved to Greenville two years
ago. Prior to directing “Laramie” he directed
Arthur Miller’s “A View From the Bridge” and
Beth Henley’s “Crimes of the Heart.”
According to Day the cast is comprised of
an 11-member ensemble that plays more than
70 characters.
“It’s such an ensemble effort and they’re
always busy transforming into characters,” says
Day. “The group as a whole is outstanding.”
He points to a scene near play’s end and
the reconstructed sight of the fence
Matthew Shepard was found tied to as par
A scene from ‘The Laramie Project.’
ticularly moving.
“Matthew Shepard’s dad has a speech near
the end — it’s a combination of a press
release and a statement he made to one of the
killers. We’ve also built a buck fence like the
one Matthew was discovered on. Seeing the
spot where he was murdered and the delivery
of that statement impacts you every time.”
Day and his students are excited about
the upcoming production, but Day admits he
has some concern about reactions from con
servative state politicians who might object
to the state funded school’s staging of the
controversial play.
“We’re a little concerned — but we haven’t
had any negative response yet. We have a pret
ty courageous dean here. This is an arts school
and just by the nature of the place people are
more accepting of diversity, individuality and
freedom of self-expression.” >
info: www.scgsah.state.sc.us
n
r
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Male Review & Divas Drag Show
• Open daily with happy hour specials
and nightly shows.
• Game room with pool tables and
arcade games.
• Great music mix where all
are welcome. ^
o o o
226 State Street
West Columbia
South Carolina
NOVEMBER 47:.2006 .i-Q-WrES