Cast member shares experience of acting in 'The Laramie Project,' in Brainerd through Oct. 15

Published October 13, 2023 at 4:45 PM CDT

Stage North Theatre Co. cast members Natalie Topete, left, and Vincent Johnson-Ding of "The Laramie Project" rehearse on the stage of Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd. The play will be staged Oct. 12-15, 2023.

Brainerd theater group Stage North Theater Company presents 'The Laramie Project' Oct. 12-15 at Franklin Art Center.

BRAINERD — Dawn Espe last acted in the third grade before joining the community theater cast of a deeply emotional play.

Espe will take the stage as part of an eight-member cast of The Laramie Project, a production of Stage North Theatre Co. in Brainerd. It’s the story of the 1998 brutal murder of Matthew Shepard and the underlying bigotry, homophobia and hatred that enabled it.

Matthew Shepard was murdered at 21 years old in 1998 in an anti-gay hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming.

Espe joined the KAXE Morning Show to talk about her experience as the play makes its run Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 12-15.

“It's just been really interesting to watch that progression into these characters, especially since it's my first time ever doing anything like this before and seeing how that happens,” said Espe, about the intensity of the story of Shepard.

“It’s emotional, you know. After scenes, we have to grab our tissues."

The murder of Shepard was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states.

Written in 2000 by Moises Kaufman, The Laramie Project was created out of many interviews with residents of Laramie and published news reports. Divided into three acts, more than 60 characters are portrayed by eight actors.

The Stage North production is directed by Eric Caswell Brutscher and features Baird Brutscher, Barb McColgan, Vincent Johnson Ding, Connor Nichols, Michelle Ingels, Sarah Good, Dawn Espe, Mark Ford and Natalie Topete. Stage manager is Melissa Peterson.

Remaining shows are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. Oct. 15. Tickets are $10 and are available at Stage North’s website.

The cast of The Laramie Project, a photo of the cast on the stage at Franklin Arts Center. — The cast of Stage North Theater Co.'s "The Laramie Project" includes Sarah Good, left; Michelle Ingels, CJ Nichols, Natalie Topete, M. Hollis Ford, Dawn Espe, Baird Brutscher and Barb McColgan. Not pictured are Vincent Johnson-Ding or Ethan Johnson.