Diversity Project
About the Laramie Project
In 2009, the McLean County Diversity Project, along with the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, will be producing The Laramie Project, the true story of the aftermath of the murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.
Local middle school and high school students will comprise all acting roles, and will also serve as stage hands and design and construct sets. Directors Tricia Stiller and Troy Clark will hold auditions this fall.
We are excited about bringing this powerful message to McLean County and are seeking to partner with individuals, organizations, and businesses that will help us achieve our goal. The murder of Matthew Shepard brought national attention to the issues of hate crimes and hate crime legislation, and transcends political party affiliations.
We have already partnered with several organizations to help produce the performance. Two of our sponsors include the Pantagraph for publicity and advertising and The Bloomington and Normal Trades and Labor Assembly AFL-CIO for supervision of students and assistance with set construction.
We are also looking for cash contributors. Performance Partners donate $200 and receive acknowledgement on our web site, mcleancountydiversity.org.
For more information on partnerships, see our donation page or contact Jeff Schwartz at director@mcleancountydiversity.org
Laramie Project Production Sponsors
The Bloomington and Normal Trades and Labor Assembly AFL-CIO
The Pantagraph
Laramie Project Performance Partners
Autism Society of McLean County
Al Bedell and Deanna Frautschi
State Senator Bill Brady
State Representative Dan Brady
Country Financial
C-Tech
Mike and Patti Davidson
Bob and Julie Dobski
Village of Downs
Friends of the Ecology Action Center
The Honorable George and Myra Gordon
Heartland Community College
Illinois Education Association Region 14
lllinois State University
Illinois State University Women and Gender Studies
Illinois Wesleyan University
Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent of Education
Jan Lancaster
Liberty Storage
Lincoln College
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
McLean County Clerk Peggy Ann Milton
Mitsubishi Motors North America
The NAACP Bloomington/Normal Chapter
The Town of Normal
Not in Our Town Organization
The OCA-Central Illinois Chapter
Tari Renner, McLean County Board Member
Judge Charles and Judith Reynard
Normal Rotary Club
Bloomington Alderwoman Karen Schmidt
Mayor Jeffrey A. Schwartz
State Representative Keith Sommer
Matthew Sorensen, Chairman, McLean County Board
Mayor Steve and Linda Stockton
Unit Five Education Association
United Way of McLean County
Vitesse
Wal-Mart
McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder
distance themselves
from this crime...
...and we need to own
this crime
Everyone needs to own it.
We are like this."
-The Laramie Project