Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Next week, Pope Francis will be on U.S. soil for his first ever visit. At Draper's Juan Diego Catholic High School, the pope's message of acceptance and tolerance is already on students' minds. This semester, the school decided to tackle a performance of the stage play, "The Laramie Project."
"Some really great things are happening on campus and you're the centerpiece of it," said Joe Crnich, Juan Diego Theater director.
Students and faculty are at the center of a discussion of the terrible hate crime that claimed the life of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard in 1998.
Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming when he was abducted and driven to a remote area, tied to a fence, beaten and left for dead. His killers targeted Shepard because he was gay.
"Because this did happen we can't hold it at arm's reach, we've got to embrace it," said Crnich in his role as director.
He wants student and faculty actors to embrace a stage reading of "The Laramie Project," a play exploring the Laramie, Wyoming, community's reaction to Shepard's violent murder. Jedadiah Schultz was a 19-year-old UW student at the time of Shepard's death. Senior Lucas Castro portrays Schultz in the stage reading.
"Now, after Matthew, I would say that Laramie is a town defined by an accident, by a crime," said Schultz.
Actors have been challenged and changed by their roles in the production.
"I'm excited to portray these real people with real stories," Castro said.
"I like this play because it allows you, it gives you the different perspectives and allows you to make your own conclusion," said senior Thomas Moore.
Theology and social justice teacher Nikki Veltri Stanchfield was a college student herself at the time of Shepard's highly publicized murder.
"I remember when this happened and I remember President Clinton getting on the news and saying, 'Hate is not an American value,'" said Stanchfield.
Now, Juan Diego seniors, who were infants when Shepard died, are gaining insight from their teachers about hard topics like prejudice and hate.
"It's important that we talk about this and I think it's important that we look at prejudice," said Stanchfield.
Tony Johnson agrees. He teaches U.S. history and debate at Juan Diego.
"We've had lots and lots of discussions about ways that we can move away from a society that judges people on things that they can't control because they are different," said Johnson.
In fact, Juan Diego took on "The Laramie Project" in order to offer students a safe place to debate and discuss difficult topics.
"If we don't provide a setting such that they can sit down and respectfully and reverently have discussions around anything that is on their minds then we are failing them as educators," said Dave Brunetti, Juan Diego's campus life director.
It's important that we talk about this and I think it's important that we look at prejudice,
–Nikki Veltri Stanchfield
"There's an assumption that because you're in a Catholic school these topics are just not meant to be talked about," said Brie Bauer, a senior acting in the performance.
But they are being discussed here and in Rome where Pope Francis is talking about accepting everyone for who they are.
Johnson says, "Making sure that the church offers those people a place to be religious, to be faith-filled," seems to be at the heart of the pope's recent statements.
"In his (Pope Francis) words, 'Who am I to judge?' It's amazing that we are realizing that we are all God's people and children," says Bauer.
At a recent rehearsal, actors got encouragement and feedback on their performance from Susan Burk of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Burk will spend two days at Juan Diego this week talking with students about "The Laramie Project" and the work of the foundation formed in Shepard's honor.
Juan Diego alum Jessa Brock is proud to return to her old high school for this production.
"I'm a lesbian so it was really cool for me to get to come back to my alma mater and see such a supportive community there and that they're putting on such an important piece," said Brock.
Juan Diego's stage reading of "The Laramie Project" will take place in the high school's Little Theater on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. There is no charge, but seating is limited.
