The Laramie Project

Act III opens with “Snow,” which is set on the day of Matthew Shepard’s funeral. Matt Galloway tells us that it snowed, and that so many people attended the funeral that they couldn’t fit into two churches. The priest begins an Easter liturgy, which deals with Christ’s resurrection. There is a call and response, which is interspersed with Tiffany Edwards’ observation that, at the time of the funeral, they had the worst storm anyone could remember; tees fell and the power was out for days. Another reporter, Kerry Drake, says that the most dramatic part of the funeral was the protest by the Reverend Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church. Kids started shouting at the protesters while people lined up for the funeral. Phelps claimed that this wasn’t just another murder, but that “fags” (73) were trying to make Matthew into “a poster boy for the gay lifestyle” (73). The narrator tells us that when the theatre company returned to Laramie six months later, for the trial of Russell Henderson, Phelps was there too. Matthew’s friend Romaine decided to do something about Phelps’ protest and, along with some friends, she dressed as an angel with huge wings. These angels then surrounded Phelps and his supporters, and turned their backs to them, hiding them from view. She reveals that she is a lesbian and that she wanted to offer a message of “peace and love and compassion” (74). Phelps believes it is his mission to “‘show my people their transgressions’” (74) but Romaine just bought her angels ear plugs to drown him out.

In “Jury Selection,” Trish Steger reflects on the effect that hearing potential jurors confirm they would be willing to put you to death would have had on Russell Henderson. She also reveals the deep seated reluctance of many Laramie residents to sit on the jury.

“Russell Henderson” offers an account of Russell’s, in which he changed his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.” This moment also includes an excerpt from a statement by Lucy Thompson, Russell’s grandmother. She extends her sympathy to the Shepard family and asks the judge to show mercy when sentencing Russell, so that he is not taken “completely out of our lives forever” (76). Russell himself also makes a statement, expressing his sympathy to the Shepard family and his remorse. However, the judge questions the sincerity of these sentiments and even wonders if Russell understands the true extent of what he’s done. He sentences him to two consecutive—rather than concurrent—life sentences. After the sentencing, the theatre company speaks to Russell’s former homeroom teacher; he is a family friend and even ordained Russell a priest in the Mormon Church. After Russell was sentenced, the Mormon Church held a disciplinary meeting and excommunicated him, which means that his baptism has effectively been erased. This seems to have helped Russell comprehend just how serious a transgression he has committed. However, his teacher will continue to support Russell, in light of their shared faith and his friendship with Russell’s family.