Vashon World AIDS Day and The David Serko Project, in partnership with The Matthew Shepard Foundation, Not On Our Island, Take a Stand Theatre, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Vashon Island Film Institute, and the Vashon School District, invites the public to a powerful weekend of remembrance, community dialogue, and inspiration.

Directed by Chris Boscia of Take A Stand Theatre, island actors will perform The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman. This play captures Laramie, Wyoming’s reckoning with the murder of Matthew Shepard, and the broader themes of prejudice, accountability, and community healing. The performance aims to spark discussions on tolerance, the media’s role in shaping perception, and collective responsibility in addressing hate.

Cast: Dedra Whitt-Dakota, Phillip Gorbachov, Mateo Grey, Catherine MacNeal, Toby Nichols, Cate O'Kane, Brian Palermo, Samantha Sherman, Steven Sterne, Erika Strandberg, Jon Whalen

Set, projections, sound, and light design: Brooke Osment and West McLean.

Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s father, will address the Vashon community before the performance, sharing insights into the work he and his wife, Judy Shepard, a 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor recipient, have undertaken in Matthew’s name to foster acceptance and combat hate.