The SUNY Oswego Theatre Department has been preparing for the opening night of the Laramie Project since April, with interesting facets including each cast member playing more than one character.

Opening Oct. 16 and running through Oct. 20, "The Laramie Project" is the tragic true story of a boy who was targeted and then murdered for being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The original production of the play was eight actors so I wanted to try and keep as close as possible to that as I could,” said the director of the play, theatre faculty member Steven Mazzocone. “We ended up casting 10 actors for our production at SUNY Oswego; that feels like it definitely retains the spirit.”

Mazzocone said he held auditions for the Laramie Project and a different play simultaneously in the first week of the semester. Mazzacone was able to pick the cast through auditions of both plays.

“I think what's important to any director is to see how the actor is as a storyteller,” Mazzacone said. “Especially with Laramie, the actors are not just [playing] one character for the whole show, they’re playing six or seven characters, but they're also a narrator, [so] they’re also themselves.” 

Mazzacone said he was interested in learning about how the actor interprets the material of the play. Each actor tells the story of the characters through the narration of themselves. With each actor playing more than five characters, attendees are able to see the different ways an actor brings each character to life.

The actors utilize different tactics to prepare for alternating between characters.

“Before we start rehearsals, in our warm-ups we do a process called 'soft focus,'” student cast member Chelli Lopez said. “Kinda taking yourself out of your body almost, with soft focus, you're not focused on one specific thing, you’re focused on everything in the room.”

A rising sophomore, "The Laramie Project" is Lopez's first major production. She plays eight different characters. She said she had to practice removing herself from the character because some of her characters' beliefs do not align with her own.

“I do deep breathing exercises just to kind of take myself out of character, but still see their view,” Lopez said. “But then when I'm not on stage playing that role, I make sure I come back into reality and remember this isn’t who I am, so I don't take that negativity home.”

Lopez hopes the audience sees the support the LGBTQIA+ community has.

“People should just be able to live how they want to live if they’re happy,” Lopez said. “I hope it gives them some clarity that their voices are being heard.”

The production has 7:30 p.m. curtains on Oct. 16 to 20, as well as 2 p.m. weekend matinees on Oct. 19 and 20.

Admission is free for SUNY Oswego students, $10 for all others from the SUNY Oswego box offices on campus or via tickets.oswego.edu.

-- Written by Roxana Dolores of the Class of 2024