Grand View Theatre Production Held for Regional Festival Consideration

May 12, 2025

The Grand View University Theatre Arts Department is proud to announce that its recent production of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later has been held for consideration as a featured performance at the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). The festival will take place in January 2026 in Rochester, Minnesota.

This spring, Grand View Theatre staged The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, a powerful follow-up to the original production that revisits the town of Laramie, Wyoming, a decade after the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard, a 20-year-old student targeted for being gay. The production featured a student cast, each performer portraying multiple characters, showcasing the depth and complexity of the community’s evolving narrative. Following the opening night performance, the cast and audience participated in a virtual talkback with Dennis Shepard, Matthew Shepard’s father. The event was documented by the Matthew Shepard Foundation as part of a historical archive being developed for The Smithsonian and the Library of Congress.

Each year, only a select few productions from across the eight-state Region V are chosen to perform at the festival. Being held for consideration is a significant recognition of the quality and impact of the production. Final selections will be announced in December.

“We are thrilled that the respondents have chosen to hold our production for consideration,” said Kristin Larson, Professor of Theatre Arts and Speech. “It’s an honor to be recognized alongside such outstanding collegiate theatre work from across the region.”

Photos of the performance can be found HERE.