TECTONIC THEATER PROJECT THE LARAMIE RESIDENCY Interdisciplinary Syllabus and Resource Guide Introduction 2 The Residency and Associated Activities 3 The Tectonic Technique 4 The Tectonic Theater Project 5 Supplementary Volumes 6–67 INTRODUCTION The Tectonic Theater Project, under the direction of Moisés Kaufman, developed The Laramie Project and its sequel – The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later – An Epilogue – from an extensive series of interviews with the citizens of the town of Laramie, Wyoming in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Tectonic is now making both plays available as the performance component of the residencies, each specifically developed to meet the individual interests and needs of participating communities. This means that universities and performing art centers around the world are now able to investi- gate the broader and deeper meaning of Tectonic’s dramatic exploration of the crime, the town, the politics, and the people as they absorb, manage, and come to terms with the reality of a horrendous crime in its midst and how they and the world react to it. Activities are specifically tailored to each Presenter’s community taking advantage of local resources to shape an exploration of the many themes inherent in the events and the stage productions. Each series of workshops, colloquies, and related events is designed in conjunction with the Pre- senter’s community. The members of The Tectonic Theatre Project, all professional actors, include those who conducted the actual interviews which led them to create the script. These artists bring a rare and matchless reality to the experience, both through their talent and their intimate knowledge of the subject. With two plays in tandem and a series of riveting events and options, Tectonic Theater now provides a deeper, more expansive, exploration of the iconic tragedy in Laramie Wyoming, seen in a larger con- text as a crisis in small-town America. 2 T SIHE RE DENCY ASCS O I TED ACTIVITIES Two Evenings of Theater The following residency themes could involve active participation by experts, professors, and/or students The two plays that make up The Laramie Residency in advanced technology, modern communications, are a powerful theatrical double-bill presentation. contemporary behaviorism, the arts, literature, etc. They now complete an epic investigation of a small town confronting its fears, its crimes, its biases, it behavior, its obfuscations, and its regrets as re- Themes and Related Subjects vealed by the iconic tragedy surrounding the death A wide range of options for academic and commu- of Matthew Shepherd a decade ago. nity wide exploration might include such topics as... • Crime: From Fact to Folklore A Community of Participants • The Political Impact of Murder on the Citizenry In shaping the residency with members of the • The Community as an Impetus to National Change community, Tectonic encourages the cooperative involvement of students, faculty, and community • The Long-term Effects of Hate in Society resources, people from a wide range of associated • How does a Community cope with Tragedy in departments and organizations in fields such as its Midst behavioral science, religious studies, journalism, • The Societal Danger of Forgetting theater, psychology, civics, criminology, law • The Criminal Impulse and The Community Identity and government. • Bringing Small Town America onto the International Stage • Contemporary Issues and Greek Tragedy • The Possibilities of Theater in our New Webcasting Techno-age • Theater and Contemporary Myth • The Stage and The Community Supplementary Material Enclosed is a four part Resource Guide with excerpts, commentary by the writer/performers, discussion points, books, websites and video resources. • Part 1: Background and Introduction • Part 2: Issues and Themes • Part 3: Viewing and Analyzing • Part 4: Lessons from Laramie 3 TheETON T C IC TECHNIQUE Tectonic Theater Project, under the direction of seminars employing the company’s unique method Moisés Kaufman, creates theater work which de- of “Moment Work”, giving artists at the educational pends upon the process named by them, “Moment and professional level the practical tools they need Work”, a creative technique singular to Tectonic to integrate this new theatrical vocabulary into the Theater Project. creation of original work. By the same token, these methods can be applied to preexisting texts (from Over the past fifteen years, Moisés Kaufman and Shakespeare to Shepard) to achieve works of unique Tectonic Theater Project have developed and refined theatrical power. a wholly unique methodology, creating some of the most theatrically thrilling and currently important Beyond their mission of sharing theater perfor- American theater of the past decade. Following the mance with audiences, Tectonic Theater Project, world-wide success of The Laramie Project, and with shares their dramaturgical creative process in a growing interest in Tectonic and its unique approach week-long residency that offers deeply engaged to making theater, The Tectonic Teaching Arm was work with the company for community members officially launched in 2005. and culminates with live performance by the com- pany of two of their signature works, The Laramie At the core of the Tectonic teaching method is Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later – “Moment Work”, a technique developed by Moisés An Epilogue. Kaufman for creating and analyzing theater. Thus students of theatre can participate in the Using laboratory setting, the technique encourages creative process directly guided by the experienced the participants to create work that is uniquely members of the company and see the ultimate theatrical. It pushes writers, actors, designers and fruit of drama guided by the core techniques of directors to collaborate in the making of work that “Moment Work.” focuses on using all theatrical elements. The tech- nique breaks apart the traditional roles of theater The following syllabus provides presenters with artists, enfranchising artists of all disciplines to some representative opportunities for building a move out of their defined roles and become theater- meaningful experience in their community based makers: true investigators of the possibilities of upon the application of “Moment Work” in a the medium. multi-disciplinary residency and performances of two of the most important American plays of the Tectonic is committed to expanding the conversa- last decade. tion about how work gets made in this country to resident theaters, Broadway and off-Broadway stag- For presenters who participated in the landmark es, and educational institutions – focusing on the world premiere of the “Laramie Project Epilogue … importance of theatrical exploration in the creation Ten Years Later”, this residency offers the opportu- of new work, especially in the early stages of new nity to deepen heir relationship with the company. play development. For new presenters, “The Laramie Residency” offers a deeply textured engagement that can be As part of residencies, Artistic Director Moisés shaped to suit the areas of interest and academic Kaufman and members of Tectonic provide com- orientation of their institution, while also presenting munities nationwide workshops, lectures and dramatic work of the highest caliber. 4 TTONEC IC THEATER PROJECT This is an award-winning company whose plays to interview people in the town torn apart by the have been performed around the world. The com- crime. The play forged from these interviews was pany is dedicated to developing innovative works created collaboratively by the members of the com- that explore theatrical language and form, fostering pany over a long workshop process in which partici- an artistic dialogue with our audiences on the social, pants were encouraged to operate outside their area political and human issues that effect us all. In of specialization. Thus, actors and designers became service to this goal, Tectonic supports readings, writers and dramaturges, directors became design- workshops, and full theatrical productions, as well ers and actors, and the company uncovered a new as training for students around the country in our way of creating a theatrical event. play-making techniques. Tectonic Theater Project was founded in 1991 by Moisés Kaufman and Jeffrey LaHoste. Tectonic refers to the art and science of structure and was chosen to emphasize the company’s interest in construc- tion-- how things are made, and how they might be made differently. As with The Laramie Project, its groundbreaking plays – Gross Indecency: The Three Trials Of Os- car Wilde, and I Am My Own Wife – have sparked national discourse about their subjects and have inspired artists and audiences worldwide. In the early years of Tectonic, the company staged works Tectonic continues to employ these techniques in by writers who were testing the boundaries of creating some of the most unique and innovative the theatrical form: Samuel Beckett, Franz Xaver works on the American stage. The latest Tectonic Kroetz, Sophie Treadwell and Naomi Iizuka. But in production – Thirty-Three Variations, an exploration time, however, Kaufman realized that in order to be of obsession in music and life, was seen last season rigorous about exploring theatrical form, the com- on Broadway with Jane Fonda. pany had to deal with the issue of text. Thus, he set about writing his first play, Gross Indecency, based on transcripts, biographies, letters and other found materials about the life