R'ville Stage Creations to perform The Laramie Project for Pride Month

RENSSELAERVILLE―R'ville Stage Creations (RSC), a community theatre rooted in the Helderberg Hilltowns of Albany County, is launching its 16th season with The Laramie Project. Written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project, The Laramie Project is a powerful piece of verbatim documentary theatre.

The company chose June for this production to honor Pride Month, and a portion of the show proceeds will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

The Laramie Project chronicles a community's response to the 1998 murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay college student beaten and left to die outside Laramie, Wyoming. Matthew’s murder drew worldwide attention and shaped national conversation around bigotry and hate crimes. The script is based on over 200 interviews with Laramie residents, personal journals, and news reports. The play features eight actors who portray more than 60 characters and has become one of the most widely performed plays in America and worldwide.

RSC is producing The Laramie Project in association with Small Potatoes Playhouse, whose founder Sean Allison guest directs alongside producer and RSC founder and Artistic Director Tara McCormick-Hostash. Allison is no stranger to RSC audiences, having performed in The Crucible and The Addams Family Musical, and his one-person show If It Bleeds It Leads was presented by RSC as a successful Fall 2025 fundraiser for the Mental Health Association of Columbia & Greene Counties.

The Laramie Project will open at the company’s home theater of Conkling Hall in Rensselaerville for three shows June 12-13 at 7 p.m., and June 14 at 2 p.m. The company then goes on the road for a second weekend at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, with shows June 19-20 at 7 p.m. and June 21 at 2 p.m. In addition, community members are invited to attend a pay-what-you-can relaxed performance of the final dress rehearsal at Conkling Hall on Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m., offering a welcoming, judgment-free environment for guests with developmental or learning differences or anyone who finds traditional theatre settings challenging. The Thursday relaxed performance is limited to 25 guests.

The Laramie Project contains strong language and mature themes. Audience discretion is advised. For tickets and reservations, visit rvillestage.org/the-laramie-project or call/text 518-248-3261.

R'ville Stage Creations will continue its 16th season this fall with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in October and the original cabaret Yankee Hearth Tales in November.

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