A Research Process

Assisting with the costume process on Perseverance's production of

The Laramie Project

By Johanna Evans

The Beginning

• Establishing a relationship with Holly Rihn, costume designer for Perseverance’s The Laramie Project

Directions :

• Holly sent me a description of what she was interested in having me doing.

“I have gone through all of the characters and started to think about possible base costumes items for them.  I may have told you already that each actor will have a simple base costume that they add smaller pieces onto to become a character.  There are over 70 different characters in the show, as you can see from my breakdown.  I have tried to put them all into groups based on the occupations or relationships to major characters in the piece.  I would like you to read the script and go over this breakdown, then begin research on different groups or individuals.  You will likely be able to find photos of actual individuals in some cases, for instance Governor Jim Geringer or Dennis Shepard.  For other people including the members of the police departments or ER doctors you should do research on their professions to find out what the actual uniform should be...but make sure you are specific to Albany county and Laramie or whatever area of the country that the character is from.  Be as specific as you can...any instance where you can find an actual photo of the real person is great.  Also, we should be doing research of the area in general.  The town of Laramie, Albany county, Wyoming as a whole to try to discover what people from the area are like and what they wear.  “

-email from Holly on March 24th

Timeline:

A Time Crunch

March 22 - I first talked with Holly when she visited our class. This was where I hatched the idea that this would be a wonderfully involved research project.

March 24 – Email sent from Holly with directions

April 1 – Met with Holly at office to review and deliver visual information

April 2 - Holly needed the majority of the information

April 4 - Holly had to have a presentation of idea’s to give to Marilyn and Leigh on March 4th

April 10 – Final day for collecting visual information. Holly had to create research boards for presentation to the director and the cast by the April 11th.

Occupation/State of Being Name Age Description Base Costume Bartender at the Fireside Matt Galloway 20s University of Wyoming student short sleeve button-down, jeansDJ at the Fireside Shadow 30 African American man button-down, slacks

Detective Sergeant Rob DeBree 40s Chief investigator on the murder button-down, slacksDetective Sergeant Hing 40s Laramie police department button-down, slacksPolicewoman Reggie Fluty 40s discovered Matthew at the fence button-down, slacksReggie's Mother Marge Murray 70s Has emphysema, still smokes short sleeved blouse, long skirtSocial Service Volunteer Alison Mears 50s Friend of Marge Murray short sleeved blouse, jeans

CEO, Poudre Valley Hospital Rulon Stacey 40s Mormon, Fort Collins, CO button-down, slacksEmergency Room Doctor Dr. Cantway 50s Ivinson Mem Hospital, Laramie button-down, slacks

University President Philip DuBois 40s button-down, slacksAcademic Advisor to Matthew Jon Peacock late 30s Political science professor button-down, slacksHead of Univ. Theatre Dept. Rebecca Hilliker 40s Midwestern accent button-down, dress pantsUniversity of W professor Catherine Connolly 40s Out lesbian button-down, dress pantsAdministrator at University Zackie Salmon 40s Texas accent button-down, slacksAdministrative Assistant Sherry Johnson 40s University of Wyoming blouse, skirtStake Ecclesiastical leader Doug Laws 50s Mormon, U of W professor button-down, slacks

Catholic Priest Father Roger Schmit 40s Very Outspoken button-down, slacksMinister form Kansas Reverend Fred Phelps 60s button-down, slacksUnitarian Minister Stephen Mead Johnson 50s button-down, slacksBaptist Minister 50s Originally form Texas button-down, slacksPriest at Funeral button-down, slacks

Prosecuting attorney Cal Rerucha 50s button-downJudges button-downJurors button-downs & blousesForeperson button-downBailiff button-down

Perpetrator Aaron McKinney 21 Roofer wife beater, jeansPerpetrator Russell Henderson 19 tee shirt, jeans

Republican Governor Jim Geringer button-down, slacksReporter Caspar Star Tribune Kerry Drake button-down, jeansLaramie Local Reporter Tiffany Edwards blouse, dress pants

Research Tools: How I found information on clothing worn by the actual people in Laramie Wyoming in 1998.

• Our friendly local reference librarians

Elise Tomlinson: Library Instructional Services

• Google

• Journal searches

Amelia Jenkins: adjunct Reference Librarian

• Sent me links, most of which weren’t helpful, some that were. Very nice lady.

Research Tools continued:

• My new best friend becomes the Google Image Search

• Ebsco Host also helpful, but for different reasons

Research Results:

Court People

Cal Rerucha; prosecuting attorney for McKinny and Henderson. A8

Research Results:

Crowd Shots

Random girls at a vigil.

Vigil for Matthew Shepard.

Research Results:

Friends and Family

Judy and Denis Shepard, parents of Matthew Shepard

Romaine Patterson, good friend ofMatthew Shepard’s, at the site wherehe was found on the morning of October 7th, 1998.

Research Results:

Hospital Staff

Rulon Stacey, CEO of Poudre Valley Hostpital, where Matthew

Research Results:

Law Enforcement

General picture of a police uniform in Albany County/Laramie.

Pictures of McKinny and Henderson and officers in uniform.

Research Results:

Representative of Religions

Catholic Minister Father Rodger Schmit is on the far right.

Reverend Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church is from Topeka Kansas.

Unitarian Universalist Reverend Stephen Mead

Research Results:

University Employees

University president, Philip L. Dubois, speaking at Matthew’s vigil.

Rebecca Hilliker, head of the University of Wyoming’s Theater Department.

Research Results:

Places

Fireside Bar and Grill

Inside the Fireside Bar.

McKinny’s converted stable apartment.

Downtown Laramie Wyoming.

Research Results:

The Press

“Historic coverage, The unprecedented and sympathetic press response to Matthew Shepard's murder included everything from in-depth network news reporting to segments on Entertainment Tonight about the presence of Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche at a vigil for the slain student.”

- Advocate via Academic Search Premiere

The press descends on Laramie.

A Learning Experience:

• Research tactics• Another aspect of theater• Working with and observing a

designer