“The Laramie Project” isn’t like any other productions that have been performed in the Kaneland District. It doesn’t have star crossed lovers, or cheerful singing and dancing, it’s a true story told from the point of view of characters that were based on the lives of actual people.

“The really cool thing about this show is it’s not fiction, it’s true.” Trisha Mills said. Mills is the  mother of three Kaneland High School students and a member of the production’s cast.

The production is based on Matthew Shepard, a 21 year old man who was killed in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming. His death has been described as one of the most horrific hate crimes in American history. The purpose of The Laramie Project is to shut down hatred, and promote acceptance and kindness.

“Most people hate hate, but they are being hypocritical,” freshman member of the Laramie Project’s cast, Sabrina Massa said. “I think the best way to get rid of hate is to love.”

On October 7, 1998 Shepard was left to die, tied to a fence and beaten horrifically by two men he met in a bar, it was concluded later on that the beating was due to the fact that Shepard was gay. Eighteen hours later he was found barely breathing by a bicyclist. Shepard died at a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado with his family at his bedside on October 12, 1998.

The play tells the story of how things were after his death, the investigation, the way people reacted, as well as how it changed the small town, and eventually the whole world.

“I think it was a new type of play for the audience as well as us [the cast and crew], it’s a pretty deep, heavy play to watch, and connect to, ” cast member, Ben Mitchinson said.

At the end of each performance the audience and the cast stayed together for a few minutes to have what the cast called a “talk back”. During each talk back the audience, cast and crew joined together to discuss what they took away from the performance, their opinions on hate, as well as what they believe needs to be done to demolish hatred.

“The audience seemed genuinely moved to share their experience for the purpose of erasing hate and heightening understanding and acceptance,” Maria Dripps-Paulson, Executive Director of the Kaneland Arts Initiative said about the success of the talk backs.

Many students, parents and members of the community shared their own personal stories and ideas during the sessions. After each performance someone in the audience expressed that they thought all students and faculty should have seen the show.

“ The play left me with a feeling of hope and a different perspective on how people can be targeted in society for being different,” sophomore, Kimberly Vencer said after seeing the show.

After Matthew’s death his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, founded “The Matthew Shepard Foundation”, a foundation centered around empowering individuals and creating positive change.

Right on the foundation’s webpage it states their vision is to “replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance,” which is exactly what the Kindness Campaign, a campaign to promote kindness in the Kaneland community is looking to do.

“We wanted to do something that possibly could be done in conjunction with our emphasis on kindness and acceptance,” Diane McFarlin, vice principal and director of the Laramie Project said on why this performance was chosen.

The Kindness Campaign was also there to lend a helping hand on each performance day. They sold t-shirts that read positive messages such as, “Be Nice, Be Happy, Be Accepting.”