This has been a labor of love and a difficult production to mount. I guess it is appropriate that we will be presenting this show in June - which is Pride Month across the country. I have had a lot of time to digest why this was an appropriate show to mount with our students. It deals with some heavy topics about identity, bigotry, and hope.
What happened in Laramie, Wyoming shocked the nation - the death of Matthew Shepard brought a reckoning about what it meant to be a member of the LGBT community in the United States. It also shined a light on who we are as a people and as a nation. The Laramie Project tackles these issues in an honest light. In the course of their interviews, they spoke to a Catholic priest who had these wise words for them, "And I will speak with you. I will trust that if you write a play of this, that you say it right." This has been what is so powerful about this show - it presents these people honestly - for better or worse.
This allowed us the opportunity to have real conversations as a cast and as a Southeastern Community to discuss important issues about ourselves and the world we live in. We were blessed every day to work with these students, who passionately and honestly tackled this difficult show. We were also blessed to have an administration that was supportive of not only the arts but allowing us a medium to tackle serious topics with our students. We are blessed to work at a school that invests in the arts.
I would like to thank a number of people specifically by name -
- First, I would like to thank Janelle Canastra whose patience and mentoring were a blessing through the process of filming. I am so lucky each day to work with you and to collaborate on this project.
- Second, Principal Weckesser and Superintendent Lopes whose constant support and investment in the arts have been an incredible boon on the development of a theatre community at Southeastern.
- Thank you to the administrative team including Mary Kobey, Bob Foley, Christina Guarini, Joanne McCormick, Heidi Driscoll, Karen Maguire, and
- Special Thank you to Joshua Litterio, Nicole Martin, Christopher Spencer, and Megan Silveira for their patience with all of us.
- Best thank you to Birdie and Priscilla.
- Special thank you Robert Reilly, Scott Nelson, and the facilities/janitorial team who have supported all we aspire to do.
- Thank you to Kayla Vasquez for her cheerleading!
- I would like to congratulate our graduating senior, Kaileigh Reis. Kaileigh is a student who has worn many hats in her time with the program - techie, actor, camera person! She is a force of nature and we are so proud of all she achieved!
- I would like to congratulate our graduating senior, Christina Venter. Christina has been a dedicated techie who has helped with numerous projects and was essentially to helping film this project!
- Finally, thank you to James and Christie who have helped more than anyone to build this program up. I am forever indebted to you both!
I hope you all enjoy the show!
Christopher Crossen-Sills
