From Laramie, Wyoming to Swampscott, Massachusetts

Fifteen years ago, a twenty-one year old student studying at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and left tied to a fence. Matthew Shepard was found by a bicyclist almost eighteen hours later. This tragic event inspired Moisés Kaufman to write the play, The Laramie Project. For the fall play at Swampscott High School, the theater program has chosen to perform The Laramie Project.

The Laramie Project, a play based on the story of Matthew Shepard has been performed in theaters nationwide. The story is focused around the atmosphere ten years later, after Matthew’s murder and is composed of testimonies of the townspeople.

Although the play can address controversial issues, it is important that the community is educated about these kinds of hateful actions. After the play had already been chosen, and casting had been assigned, school officials decided to change some aspects of the play which raised an uproar in the Swampscott community.

When asked about his decision to attempt to change parts of the play, Principal Edward Rozmiarek said he was concerned with some of the language in the play. His revisions mainly surrounded the swearing in the play, not the message of Matthew’s story.

“That’s language that will get you suspended” Said Rozmiarek.

Ultimately, Rozmiarek made the decision to have the play performed with its original language. Rozmiarek said that this play is never going to be a family show, and he is treating that play as if it were a movie. And the rating for this movie would be rated “R.” Use his quote here

Play director and drama teacher Mr. James Pearse, said he was shocked when he was told that Rozmiarek was attempting to change the language of the play, and thought that the language wouldn’t be an issue.

“It’s important to remember that in the US people experience violence and death because they are different and we need to know that and keep it in mind,” said Pearse.

Bethany Hapgood, Swampscott High School junior and and the play’s stage manager ,said that the language, when viewing the script, wasn’t so vulgar that it shocked her. She explained that by changing the language of these real characters, it changes the characters as a whole, and that most of the language used in the play is words are often freely throughout the hallways at Swampscott High School. Hapgood said that she was shocked that Rozmiarek wanted to change the language in the play.

 “Administration never has shown interest in the drama club because we aren’t funded by the school,” said Hapgood.     

Junior, Sophia Kennedy at Swampscott said, “I understand that parents and teachers want to protect us, but they’re just words. We hear this [language] all the time, by changing the language it’s not going to make us un-hear it.”

Fortunately, a compromise has been reached. On October 11th, Rozmiarek personally told Pearse that he wasn’t going to change the language of the play. Instead, however, each person attending the play under the age of seventeen must have a permission slip signed by a parent or attend the play with a parent or guardian, and everyone aged seventeen and older must have a form of ID with them.