Tolerance for First Amendment rights - freedom of religion, the right to free speech and the right of people to peacefully assemble - will be put to the test in Marshalltown the evening of July 24.
Shirley Phelps-Roder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., told the Times-Republican that church members will be picketing the opening performance of "The Laramie Project" by the Marshalltown Community Theatre at the Martha Ellen Tye Playhouse located in the Fisher Community Center, 709 S. Center St.
The picketing will occur, according to Phelps-Roder, on public right-of-way from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m.
Acting Chief of Police Jack McAllister told the T-R WBC will be required to obtain a permit to picket from City Clerk Sheri Coughnhour.
When asked if WBC had applied for a permit, Coughnhour said: "They have not. I haven't seen or heard from anybody."
At issue is the play's subject matter: the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay young man in Laramie, Wyo. and how the play is used to influence others.
"This (homosexuality) is not one of these issues that is open for discussion," Phelps-Roper, who is organizing the trip said. "Homosexuality is an abomination. It is like adultery. Sodomy is against God. We are protesting the play because it is a tool to teach rebellion against God's standards, it teaches a generation that God is falsely teaching."
The date, time and place of the picketing was announced May 13 in a church press release available on the church's Web site, www.godhatesfags.com
Later, it was included with commentary in the church's picketing schedule also on its Web site.
Phelps-Roder said 18 church members had signed up for the trip, which includes picketing at locations in the Midwest. Protests are also scheduled July 24 in Des Moines, Waukee and Ames.
Before arriving in Marshalltown, WBC will be picketing on the campus of Iowa State University.
The WBC's connection to "The Laramie Project" goes back to the funeral of Shepard in Laramie. The Rev. Fred Phelps of WBC and members protested at one of the church's holding services. The Rev. Phelps is portrayed and quoted on stage in "The Laramie Project."
The July 24 protest will be the WBC's second visit to Marshalltown. Church members previously protested at the Scott Nisely funeral. Nisely, a resident and soldier, was killed-in-action while serving in Iraq.
The WBC Web site reported, "since 1991, WBC has conducted 40,879 peaceful demonstrations..."
When asked how the trips to protest are paid for, Phelps-Roder responded, "We pay our own way. We take time off from work if necessary. Since this is summer, we may take some our kids along."
Volunteer MCT director Tom LaVille told the T-R he did not have a specific reaction to the planned picketing. However, he said, "The best way to show how you feel about it (the picketing) is to attend the play."
LaVille said it was his suggestion the play be done. It was referred to a MCT committee, which then recommended it be approved for production by the MCT volunteer board of directors.
"We have advertised the play has adult content and is not suitable for children," he said.
According to the Dramatists Play Service, Inc., Time Magazine called the play (when first professionally performed) "one of the ten best plays of the year. A pioneering work of theatrical reportage and a powerful stage event."
It was directed by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project. Kaufman and Theater members based the play on interviews with more than 200 Laramie residents immediately after the murder and trial, spanning a total of 18 months.
When asked why he specifically selected it, LaVille said it "met my four criteria to do a play. The first criteria: is there a quality message? Then, does it allow for a large cast? There are 39 cast members in the play. Also can MCT afford to produce the play?" He cited the "economics of doing a play versus the costs of set construction, props and costuming. Commitment. Do I have the time to commit six months serving as a volunteer director and planning rehearsals?
"I need to feel a sense of commitment if I am going to ask cast members and others connected with the production to make a commitment.
"I also wanted to do it because Laramie is about the size of Marshalltown," he said.
La Ville has directed over 85 productions at the high school and community theatre level and has served MCT in various capacities for 30 years. He previously taught in the Drama department at Marshalltown High School.
"The Laramie Project" is not the first controversial play performed by MCT.
"MCT has put on other controversial plays" Marshalltown's Kay Beach said. Kay and her husband Mayor Gene Beach, have been affiliated with the organization for many years as volunteers and performers in numerous productions.
"We did 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'" Kay said, "and people we were in a tizzy about the title. We did 'The Lion in Winter' twice. That play is controversial because of a homosexual scene. We did it twice, once in the '70s and in the early '90s. Ironically, we heard more about it the second time (in the '90s). When we did 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' papers were placed on the windshields of cars stating it (the play) did not follow the Bible correctly. 'Sylvia,' was a play about a dog of the same name who used very foul language."
Kay said "The Laramie Project" and those mentioned are "outside" the MCT season package. Therefore, season-ticket holders don't have to feel compelled to attend if they don't wish too.
When asked his reaction to the planned protest by WBC, assistant director Pete Grady replied, "This is about life in America and what the First Amendment is all about. They have a right to protest and we have a right to put on the play."
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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@ timesrepublican.com
