The Laramie Project Creative

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Director
Bennie Palko
Bennie Palko, a graduate from the University of Northern Colorado, is thrilled to be returning to RISE this year as the StageCraft Teacher, Co-TDC sponsor, fall production director and spring musical technical director. She has been in education for 15years and can't believe she was lucky enough to find RISE. Within Education Bennie has had the privilege of having a program accepted to the American High School Theatre Festival that performs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She has been nominated for Best Director for the Bobby G awards, she has had 6 students make Main Stage at the Colorado Thespian Conference, 2 of those winning the Technical Theatre Senior Scholarship. Outside her educational career Bennie is a professional Stage Manager and Prop designer. Most recently working with Sasquache's productions of The Full Monty (assistant Stage Manager) and Little Women (Stage Manager and Props).
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Production Manager
Rebecca Postma
Rebecca Postma is a second year teacher at RISE, teaching Theatre Performance, and serving as the Co-Sponsor of the Thespian Drama Club, Production Manager of the fall show, and Director and Choreographer of the spring musical. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature, Theatre Performance, and Secondary Education. She completed her Master's in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management at Colorado State University, and has worked in the Denver area as a teaching artist and events manager for 8 years. Over the past 5 years, she has directed, choreographed, and collaborated as a teaching artist with a variety of schools and professional organizations in Colorado. She is so pleased to have found a teaching home here at RISE with RPA and her partner in crime, Ms. Palko!
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Assistant Director*
Erick Martinez
A former RISE alumnus, decorated speech and debate state qualifier, and forever theater kid, Erick Martinez has had his fair share of performances and is no stranger to a stage. After performing in lead roles for 10 Ways To Survive the Zombie Apocalypse and High School Musical, Erick has decided to take a break from the stage and try out his skills as The Laramie Project’s assistant director. He is more than excited to see the rising phoenixes overcome the struggles of remote learning and show the world nothing can stop them from putting on an amazing show! *Alumnus Member-RISE International Thespian Society Troupe #8937

Original Creative Team

THE LARAMIE PROJECT by Moisés Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project 

The US West World Premiere was produced by The Denver Center Theatre Company

Donovan Marley, Artistic Director in association with Tectonic Theater Project 

Moisés Kaufman, Artistic Director.

Originally produced in New York City at the Union Square Theatre by Roy Gabay and Tectonic Theater Project in association with Gayle Francis and the Araca Group 

Associate Producers: Mara Isaacs and Hart Sharp Entertainment.

The Laramie Project was developed in part with the support of The Sundance Theatre Laboratory.

HEAD WRITER Leigh Fondakowski


ASSOCIATE WRITERS Stephen Belber, Greg Pierotti, Stephen Wangh


DRAMATURGS Amanda Gronich, Sarah Lambert, John McAdams, Maude Mitchell, Andy Paris, Barbara Pitts, Kelli Simpkins