FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington will present a theater workshop production of “Bridge,” an original, new play inspired by the true story of Charlie Howard, victim of a 1984 hate-crime that galvanized a community and the state of Maine.

Performances of the 40-minute play are open to the public and will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 5-6, at the Emery Community Arts Center.

Written and directed by award-winning Maine playwright Jayne Decker, the one-act play tells the story of a young man who is bullied and thrown off a bridge for being gay.

While the main character in Decker’s drama is named to honor Howard, other characters and the location are nameless — emphasizing how this is everyone’s tragedy.

“Bridge” underscores how personal and societal responsibilities go hand-in-hand. Simply staged, the play moves between the past and present to reveal each character’s story and the role of the community in the end results. “This isn’t just one town’s narrative,” said Decker, artistic director for Sandy River Players and UMF faculty member. “Every community should own this story so people can understand that this type of behavior can happen to anyone, anywhere.”

“It’s important not to be silent when these things happen and that we learn from these stories,” Decker said. “Sharing them on stage helps us think about our decisions and actions, and how they affect our lives and our community.”

With the 30-year anniversary of Charlie Howard’s story approaching, Decker hopes to see “Bridge” performed at schools and theaters throughout the state.