On October 10, GRAMMY®-winning vocal ensemble Conspirare and composer Craig Hella Johnson perform the choral drama Considering Matthew Shepard, an evocative and compassionate inquiry into acceptance inspired by a young gay man whose legacy sparked significant change in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The work offers audiences a chance to explore themes of anti-hate, compassion, and understanding in a powerful way. The story invites audience members to consider how we “other” people and how we can move towards acceptance. While Matthew’s untimely death occurred 25 years ago, these conversations remain relevant in today’s time of deep division.

This three-part choral drama speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles seamlessly woven into a unified whole. In addition to the world-class choral performance by the Conspirare ensemble, Hella Johnson sets a wide range of poetic and soulful texts by poets including Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. Passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard, newspaper reports, and additional texts by Hella Johnson and Browne are poignantly appointed throughout the work. The final movement will feature more than 500 local choir singers, led by Philadelphia conductors Rollo Dilworth and Dr. Jay Fluellen.

The intimate Downstage @ the Mann performance setting offers the ideal environment in which to explore this stunning work in an engaging, welcoming way. The work aims to instill a renewed sense of acceptance, introspection, unity - and above all - hope in all those who attend. 

“‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ demonstrates music’s capacity to encompass, transform and transcend tragedy. Powerfully cathartic, it leads us from horror and grief to a higher understanding of the human condition, enabling us to endure.” 
– The Washington Post
 
“Matt Shepard and his story have led me on an inspiring, challenging and deeply meaningful journey that I continue to this day. In composing Considering Matthew Shepard, I wanted to create, within a musical framework, a space for reflection, consideration and unity around his life and legacy.” 
– Craig Hella Johnson, composer

About Downstage @ the Mann: 
Downstage @ the Mann offers audiences an intimate, in-the-round experience to engage with performances alongside the artists. As both audience and artist share the Presser Foundation Stage in the TD Pavilion, patrons can experience an intimate concert with up-close, under cover and open-air seating. This year’s series will explore the theme of “Acceptance,” highlighting works that tell stories of LGBTQ+ individuals and offering reflections on the ongoing journey toward inclusivity and understanding. The series includes Amythyst Kiah on August 16 and Considering Matthew Shepard on October 10. Downstage is partially funded by the William Penn Foundation. Learn more at MannCenter.org/Downstage. 

Click here to view full Libretto, Credits + Copyrights.

Like so many people, I was deeply moved and affected by the death of a young, gay Wyoming man in 1998, Matthew Wayne Shepard. The events surrounding his death created an enormous feeling-world in me which continued to reverberate for months and years after the event. I felt such a strong inner desire to respond somehow, especially musically. This feeling stayed with me many years. But it was not until many years later when I felt ready to give voice to this inner response. In some ways, I feel that Matthew as a subject for this composition chose me rather than the other way around, as it seems is so often the case when we feel a strong inner calling. This story holds so many layers of meaning and raises many questions. My own journey with Matt and his story has proven to be an inspiring, challenging and deeply meaningful exploration that continues. Surprisingly and remarkably, although remembering the suffering of Matthew Shepard can be intense and very dark, I continue to also experience a call to the inner light which this story profoundly transmits. 

The profound musical storytelling of J.S. Bach in his Passion settings, both magisterial and personal, has always deeply moved me and his masterful gift of maintaining a connection with the everyday listener (parishioner) within the grand structure of his Passions inspired me greatly. The central portion of Considering Matthew Shepard is essentially the Passion (suffering, as in passio) section of this work. The outer sections serve as Prologue, in which we are introduced to the young Matt Shepard and his strong life force, and Epilogue, which I intended to provide a space for reflection, consideration and unity within this musical framework. 

For the formation of the libretto, rather than setting the words of a single writer, I chose to gather and shape a collection of texts from several writers whose words span several centuries and represent significant cultural and geographic differences. Their writings both contribute to the telling of the story and also help create the poetic and musical structure which holds this musical meditation and reflection. 

I am deeply grateful to Dennis and Judy Shepard for their incredible generosity in continuing to support all of our remembrances of their beloved son Matt, and for being such extraordinary warriors for Love in the world. 

I send my very best to all of our colleagues at Philadelphia’s Mann Center and we are especially grateful for their vision to include CMS as part of the Downstage Series. Matthew’s story resonates now more than ever and I hope that you are inspired to be a force for Love in our world. I invite you to stay in touch with this work at Conspirare.org/Project/Considering-Matthew-Shepard.

With gratitude, Craig Hella Johnson

NARRATORS
Michael O’Bryan 
Daniel Schwartz
Kathlene Ritch

SOPRANO
Emily Yocum Black – Paducah, KY
Melissa Givens – Claremont, CA
Chelsea Helm – Washington, DC
Gitanjali Mathur – Austin, TX
Savannah Porter – Brooklyn, NY
Kathlene Ritch – Santa Fe, NM
Tiana Sorenson – Chicago, IL
Shari Alise Wilson – Austin, TX

ALTO
Ana Baida – Atlanta, GA
Sarah Brauer – Eugene, OR
Janet Carlsen Campbell – Omaha, NE
Grace Kiver – Washington, DC
Lauren McAllister – Cincinnati, OH
Laura Mercado-Wright – Austin, TX
Lianna Williams – Atlanta, GA

TENOR
Brian Giebler – Long Island City, NY 
Haitham Haidar – Montreal, QC
David Kurtenbach Rivera – San Francisco, CA
Jos Milton – Oxford, MS
Wilson Nichols – New York, NY
Brendan Jacob Smith – Brooklyn, NY
Jason Vest – Cincinnati, OH

BASS
Gregory Fletcher – Moreno Valley, CA
Rick Gabrillo – Round Rock, TX
Robert Harlan – Austin, TX
Michael Hawes – Pflugerville, TX
Enrico Lagasca – New York, NY
Tim O’Brien – Austin, TX
John Proft – Austin, TX
Jonathan Woody – New York, NY

INSTRUMENTALISTS
Ames Asbell, viola – Austin, TX
Thomas Burritt, percussion – Leander, TX
Utah Hamrick, double bass – San Marcos, TX
Douglas Harvey, cello – Austin, TX
Stephen Redfield, violin – Santa Fe, NM
Vanguel Tangarov, clarinet – Austin, TX
Mitch Watkins, guitar – Austin, TX
Austin Haller, conductor and pianist understudy – Austin, TX

FIRE OF THE ANCIENT HEART PERCUSSIONISTS 
The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts Students

CREATIVE COLLABORATORS
Elliott Forrest and Rod Caspers, Co-Producers and Stage Directors
Nate Bertone, Set Designer
Matthew Herman, Assistant Set Designer 
Claudia Stefany, Costume Designer
Camilla Tassi, Projection Designer 
Ben G. Randall and Mark Williams, Projection Assistants
Viera Buzgova, Lighting Designer
Kate Hazzard, Assistant Lighting Designer
Sam Tompkins Martin, Master Electrician/Lighting Designer
Randall Squires, Sound Design
Juno Black, Monitor Engineer
Michael Dennis Browne, co-librettist
Lesléa Newman, Author
With thanks to Robert Harlan for fence design.

PRODUCTION TEAM
Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Nomad Sound
Texas Performing Arts 
TSV Sound & Vision, Projection
Co-Producers: Rod Caspers, Elliott Forrest, Robert Harlan, Craig Hella Johnson, Ann McNair
Jonathan Fritzlen, Lalo Rodríguez, Sarah Williams, crew
Britt Plunkett

ALL OF US CHOIR 
Philadelphia Voices of Pride directed by Daniel Schwartz
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus directed by Michael Semancik
ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir directed by Miriam Davidson
Council Rock North High School directed by Heather Brewer
The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts directed by B. Lauren Thomas
Singing City directed by Rollo Dilworth
Temple University Singing Owls directed by Rollo Dilworth
Philadelphia Community Mass Choir directed by Jay Fluellen
Members of Bucks County Choral Society

WILLIAM WAY LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER
William Way LGBT Community Center seeks to engage and support the diverse LGBTQIA+ communities in the greater Philadelphia area through arts & culture, empowerment, and community connections.
waygay.org / 215-732-2220

MAZZONI CENTER
Philadelphia’s Mazzoni Center provides quality comprehensive health and wellness services in an LGBTQ-focused environment, while preserving the dignity and improving the quality of life of the individuals they serve.
mazzonicenter.org / 215-563-0652

ATTIC YOUTH CENTER
The Attic Youth Center’s mission is to create opportunities for LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community and to promote the acceptance of LGBTQ youth in society.
atticyouthcenter.org / 215-545-4331

COLOURS ORGANIZATION
The Colours Organization’s mission is to impact, improve, and empower the lives of LGBTQ+ communities of color, especially those of the African diaspora, within the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.
coloursorganization.org / 215-832-0100

THE TREVOR PROJECT
The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ teens and young adults. Crisis counselors are available 24/7 via text, chat, or phone. The Trevor Project is 100% confidential and 100% free.
thetrevorproject.org / 866-488-7386

YOUTH PRIDE ASSOCIATION
Youth Pride Association (YPA) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to promote and foster the acceptance of LGBTQ people in educational institutions and address the alarming and substantial hardships LGBTQ youth face in schools.
ypapride.org / 949-755-7694

TRANS LIFELINE
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis.
translifeline.org / 877-565-886

Conspirare thanks our Considering Matthew Shepard Sponsors

Lead Producer: Lynne Dobson & Greg Wooldridge

Inspiration Catalysts: Fran & Larry Collmann, Lee Manford & Casey Blass, Tina and Dale Knobel, Anonymous

Agent of Change: J. Randle Adair, Marvin Brittman, William G. Fivecoat, Sheri Clark Henriksen

Booster: Leslie “Les” Q. Brown, Rick and Linda Glasgow’s eLJay Foundation, Susanna & Richard H. Finnell, H-E-B, Joey M. Martin, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Kerry Tate

“All of Us” Sheet Music Sponsor: Hal Leonard

Season Underwriter: H-E-B

Arts Agencies: Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts

Foundations & Friends: Still Water Foundation, Shield-Ayres Foundation, Eclectic Philanthropic Fund of the Southwest Community Foundation, Direct Coil, Marvin J. Brittman, Fran & Larry Collmann, Mary & Phil Delk, Lynne Dobson & Greg Wooldridge, Lara A. & Robert W. Harlan, Tina & Dale Knobel, Gail & Jeffrey Kodosky, DeeAnne & Steven Paulson, Gayle Glass Roche, Nancy Scanlan, Anonymous, Carol Williams, Hella Circle and each and every generous co-creator.

Conspirare thanks The Princeton Group, Carol Lupo, CIMA®, First Vice President, Andrea Ariel, Movement Specialist, Rev. Eric P. Hungerford, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rollo Dilworth, Jay Fluellen, Donald Nally and The Crossing, and Daniel Levine for their support of our Philadelphia appearance.

Learn more about how you can support Conspirare and Considering Matthew Shepard at conspirare.org/donate

Considering Matthew Shepard Committee
Thank you to the following individuals for their enthusiastic support of Considering Matthew Shepard in the community: J. Randle Adair, Fran Collmann, Marianne DeLeon, Nina Di Leo, Scott Dinger, Lee Manford & Casey Blass, Joey Martin and Ann McNair

Downstage @ the Mann is partially funded by the William Penn Foundation

The opinions expressed in this program are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the William Penn Foundation.