Random Acts, About Face Youth Theatre And Pride Films & Plays Announce THE LARAMIE PROJECT Reading

Random Acts, About Face Youth Theatre and Pride Films & Plays have announced a special 20th Anniversary Reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moisés Kaufman, directed by Jason Gerace. The event, set to feature some of Chicago's best talent, will take place on Sunday, November 4 at 7:30pm at Pride Films and Plays' Broadway space. Tickets are tiered from $5-20 and can be purchased at www.RandomActsChicago.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT event will feature Alexandra Alontaga, Colleen DeRosa, James Fleming, Millie Hurley, Andrea Lattanzio, Jeri Marshall, James Vincent Meredith, Brian Parry, Savanna Rae, Tyler Ravelson, John Taflan, Shannon Webber, Scott Westerman, and Will Zahrn, plus About Face Youth Ensemble members Mal Balsingame, Sharon Pasia, and Jimbo Pestano.

The reading will be followed by a Q&A session including Kelli Simpkins (member of the Tectonic Theatre Project and original co-creator of THE LARAMIE PROJECT), and Donny Acosta (About Face Theatre.)

Jason Gerace is a freelance director in Chicago, and was the recipient of the 2014 Non-Equity Jeff Award in Outstanding Direction for Great Expectations with Strawdog Theatre Company. Recent productions: Suddenly Last Summer (Raven Theatre), You Can't Take it With You (OPFT).
Regional credits: Last Train to Nibroc (Haven Theatre), The Source (Route 66 Theatre), Threesome (Other Theatre), Wrecks (with John Judd; Chicago), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Opus (RedTwist Theatre, Chicago). Jason originally hails from Anchorage, Alaska and holds an MFA in Directing from The University of Oklahoma. He is an associate member of SDC, and was Artistic Associate of American Theater Company since 2008.

random acts is dedicated to presenting unpredictable and diverse genres of theatre. we strive to create approachable art with no expectations.

About Face Youth Theatre (AFYT) is a combination of theatre, activism, and leadership development opportunities for LGBTQIA youth ages 14-23. Each year we adapt true stories into an original performance that gets performed for a public audience. Through the years we have performed at The Goodman Theatre, Center on Halsted, and Pride Arts Center.

Pride Films and Plays creates diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, and filming one short film each season.

PFP is the primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center, which connects and promotes other artists who share our values, creating a safe environment for all. PAC books one-night events or limited runs, cabaret, film, dance, comedy, and other events. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP "A powerful and empowering entity."