Please join us for a powerful conversation with Matthew's parents, Judy & Dennis Shepard, on October 9, the day before the performance.
 

A Conversation with Judy & Dennis Shepard Honoring Matthew Shepard's Legacy
Wednesday, October 9 • 4PM •  Free
at William Way LGBT Community Center
 

Join us at William Way LGBT Community Center on October 9 for a conversation with Judy and Dennis Shepard honoring the legacy of their son Matthew Shepard, whose untimely passing 25 years ago sparked significant change in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Community members are invited to hear The Shepards' story and share their own experiences at this special event moderated by Ebony Ali, William Way board member and manager of the young adult leadership program at GALAEI, a QTBIPOC social justice organization.
 

A Conversation with Judy & Dennis Shepard on October 9 is free and open to the public; advance registration is recommended. This initiative is presented by the Mann in partnership with William Way LGBT Community Center. 
 

The Mann is proud to serve as a creative catalyst for civic, youth, and economic development that enriches the lives of our Parkside neighbors and the Greater Philadelphia region, fulfilling our non-profit mission. We're honored to welcome Judy and Dennis Shepard to Philadelphia for this special engagement ahead of Considering Matthew Shepard at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts on October 10.
 

Register Here

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

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com or the Mann's Ticket Office.

This performance contains sensitive subject matter. Suggested age 13 years and up.  

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. Learn more at MannCenter.org/Downstage.

Downstage is partially funded by the William Penn Foundation.