Details at a Glance
Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student whose life was taken in a brutal anti-gay hate crime in 1998. His death became a turning point in the national conversation around violence, dignity, and human rights, ultimately helping lead to expanded federal hate crime legislation in 2009.
But Considering Matthew Shepard is not simply a retelling of tragedy.
It is a deeply human work—one that invites audiences into grief, compassion, and ultimately, a vision of hope.
About the Music
Composed by Craig Hella Johnson with a libretto by Michael Dennis Browne, Lesléa Newman, and Johnson himself, Considering Matthew Shepard blends poetry, personal reflection, and musical storytelling.
The piece moves through a wide emotional landscape—mourning, remembrance, questioning, and healing—offering space to reflect not only on Matthew’s life, but on the kind of world we are called to create.
Developed with the support of Conspirare and in collaboration with the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the work has been performed across the country as a vehicle for dialogue, education, and connection.
Join Us
Whether you are familiar with this story or encountering it for the first time, you are welcome. Come experience an afternoon of music that speaks to the heart—and calls us toward a more compassionate world.
