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Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student in Wyoming in 1998. On October 7th of that year, in an anti-gay hate crime, he was attacked, tied to a fence, and left to die in a field outside Laramie. Shepard died five days later. Conspirare founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson still remembers the grief, anger and fear he felt when hearing what had happened. Johnson went on to create the musical piece “Considering Matthew Shepard” which is being reworked and performed Thursday night, October 3, at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton spoke recently with Conspirare soprano Gitanjali Mathur and Johnson about bringing this work back to the Austin stage. But they start by discussing Johnson’s initial reaction to Shepard’s killing. Conspirare’s newly-staged performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard” is happening Thursday night at 7:30 at Bass Concert Hall. There will be a post-performance discussion with Matthew Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis, and Craig Hella Johnson.
October 1, 2024
