Philadelphia honors life and legacy of Matthew Shepard

It’s been 26 years since Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, was savagely beaten and left for dead in a remote field. The horrifying events have since spurred an LGBTQ+ rights movement and inspired anti-hate laws across the country.  

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009, expanding federal hate crime laws to include crimes based on sexual orientation. And the Matthew Shepard Foundation, a nonprofit created by his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, provides hate crime training to law enforcement officials, and offers resources to help strengthen the LGBTQ community and its allies.

As the anniversary of Shepard’s death approaches, several Philadelphia institutions are celebrating his life and legacy.  

‘Considering Matthew Shepard‘ will take the stage at The Mann on Thursday, Oct. 10, courtesy of the Conspirare ensemble. Its composer-founding artistic director Craig Hella Johnson and the participation of 500+ members of Philly’s various choirs will pay tribute to Shepard through song.

Preceding the choral event will be a three-part oratorio with poetic interludes set to music. And Philly’s William Way LGBT Community Center will host a free conversation with Matthew’s parents, to discuss their loss and what his death has meant to them, to all families of gay youths, and to the LGBTQ community.

Ann McNair, the Managing Director of Conspirare said of her ensemble’s founder, Craig Hella Johnson, how deeply affected he was by Shepard’s murder, and how anxious he was to spring into song.

“As a gay man, Craig’s question is that of: “Is there anywhere where love can be found?” And in his music, he is inviting all of us to consider what has happened, and what is our role in creating a more loving and caring world where we are accepting of all.”

“Music is the most powerful way for us to be with each other,” added McNair, adding that Conspirare’s mission is dedicated to finding how music transforms life — and the lives of those who hear its song. “For us to heal as a society, we must do things together. It’s more than having conversation. It’s all about engaging.”

In telling the story of Matthew Shepard, Johnson and Conspirare indeed touch on biography — the ups and downs of an ordinary Wyoming youth trying to live his truth — while ultimately trafficking in the metaphorical and poetic by dividing Shepard’s tale into the everyday life of “Matt” and the iconography of “Matthew,” whose death spurred important changes in how our country prosecutes hate crimes. 

“A man whose murder became a movement,” says McNair. 

Catherine Cahill, the CEO and President of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, discovered how extraordinary the music and moods of ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ was by seeing the ensemble’s premiere in New York and wanting it for the Mann Center’s Downstage series.

“Knowing that we’re going to be outside amidst natural beauty is stunning,” says McNair. “Much of the poetry used throughout the vocal drama – Hildegard of Bingen, Leslea Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi – evokes nature and our relationships with nature. Being outside allows us the greater opportunity for reflection.”

Tom Burritt, Conspirare’s percussionist, is rehearsing a host of non-percussion-playing musicians from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). 

“When I saw the production in New York, there is a ten-minute portion toward the end of this incredible show where, from out of the blue, voices from the heavens came into the upper balcony singing about unity,” says Cahill.  “This was all so moving and so powerful that I said to my colleagues at the Mann that we needed to do this with local choirs and gospel vocal groups, especially those from the churches in the area where the Mann sits.”  

Welcoming Philadelphia conductors Rollo Dilworth and Dr. Jay Fluellen into the mix to convene what Cahill calls “this majesty of choral voices,” the Mann’s team brought in additional area choirs to “envelop the audience and the artists on stage with the message of how all of us are in this together in an incredible surround-sound of voices,” says Cahill. 

“That is the healing part.” 

A Conversation with Judy and Dennis Shepard Honoring Matthew Shepard’s Legacy will take place Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The event is free. ‘Considering Matthew Shepard‘ will take the stage Thursday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. at Downstage at the Mann. For information and tickets for both events, visit manncenter.org