Ten years ago, a gay University of Wyoming student named Matthew Shepard was severely beaten and left tied to a fence. He wasn't found until the next day, and he died several days later.

The Aiken Community Playhouse Youth Wing will tackle an adult drama in presenting The Laramie Project for six performances beginning Nov. 14.

"This is totally taken from interviews," said director Nancy Gamba Hansen. "It does not re-enact the events, and Matthew is not in the play."

More than 200 people were interviewed for the play. Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project in New York City made six trips to Laramie during the 18 months after Mr. Shepard's death and the trial of the two men accused of killing him.

Each member of the youth wing production play between eight and 10 roles.

That would be challenge enough for most actors, but for Michael Waites, an Aiken High School senior, there's an added degree of difficulty.

Michael plays Aaron McKinney, one of the men convicted in the killing, and Dennis Shepard, the father of the victim.

"The first time I read this, I was crying," Michael said.

Michael must change from Mr. McKinney, whom he describes as "almost flippant" and uncaring about what he did to Mr. Shepard, to the grieving father who lost his son.

"It is so emotional," he said.

Anna Brisbin, a junior at Aiken Preparatory School, said the toughest role for her is playing a male doctor.

Besides having to play someone of the other gender, she has to play someone older and with an expertise in a field she knows little about, she said.

The students said they hope the drama will cause people to do a little soul-searching.

Michael said that although everyone has prejudices, most people don't go as far as the two men who killed Mr. Shepard.

Maybe the play "will help them come face to face with their real feelings so they can work on fixing them," Michael said.

The Laramie Project is not intended for children. Although the playwrights granted permission to change some of the stronger language in the show, there are still themes that are not appropriate for children under 13, Ms. Hansen said.

The Laramie Project will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22, and at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Bechtel Experimental Theatre at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for middle and high school students.

For more information, call (803) 648-1438.