FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington student theater organization will present “The Laramie Project,” a play based on the true story of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, an openly-gay college student.

Created by playwright Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, this contemporary tragedy is taken from news articles, courtroom transcripts and interviews of dozens of residents from Laramie, Wyoming, just months after Shepherd’s death. Known as “found text,” this creative narrative presents a compelling picture of the shocking crime, the complexity of its aftermath and the fact that it could happen anywhere.

“The Laramie Project” is taught by Jayne Decker, director and UMF instructor of theater, in her Social and Political Theater course and was selected by students as a theater production they’d love to present.

“This play is very challenging and very real to the students,” said Decker. “The actors aren’t portraying fictional characters but real people that are telling a true story in their own words. That’s a powerful experience and one that challenges students and helps them grow as actors, not to mention each cast member is playing multiple characters.”

An award-winning playwright, Decker has directed numerous productions at UMF Alumni Theater. Her production, “Coyote on a Fence,” was awarded a Moss Hart Memorial Award by the New England Theatre Conference, New England’s oldest and largest regional theatre association. Her other directorial work includes Martin McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” George Brant’s “Elephant’s Graveyard,” the musicals “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Oliver!” and productions of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

This Theatre UMF production is sponsored by the UMF Department of Sound, Performance and Visual Inquiry. The play’s subject matter is of an adult nature.

The production will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 23 and 24 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 in the UMF Alumni Theater.

Tickets for the performance are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for students with I.D. Tickets are available at the time of the performance and can be reserved by calling the Theatre UMF box office at 207-778-7465.