DC Metro Theater Arts: April 20, 2022, is the 23rd anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy. It is also the day that 1st Stage — joining in a national action called #ENOUGH — will begin streaming readings of eight provocative new short plays by teen writers confronting gun violence in America. Cast with local actors and co-directed by three former 1st Stage Fellows — Evin Howell, Rocky Nunzio, and Madeleine Regina — the videotaped production will be released on the 1st Stage YouTube channel on April 20, 2022, at 7:30 pm ET.
2 comments:
I think the idea behind #ENOUGH is cool but could be better. From what I read in the article, it is just a stage performance. I mean sure, putting these rough topics into a more digestible stage reading can be somewhat effective, but there was nothing said about working alongside any organization that is working against gun violence. There is the Sandy Hook Foundation, which works to helps parents and teachers recognize signs of gun violence. However, the article spends a lot of time describing the creative team and their accomplishments and not describing HOW they are going to work against such a serious and dire problem. Don’t get me wrong I think the topic of gun violence is very important to raise conversations, but the mention of Columbine as a driver of #ENOUGH seems a little misleading with half of the plays not relating to school related gun violence at all. Good Idea, Bad Execution.
If I had a nickel for every school shooting play that I've worked on, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice. Look, inherently, there's nothing wrong with using theatre as a form of expression to talk about gun violence and the tragedies that revolve around them, but I think a show with such a strong topic can be handled either very well or very poorly. Another thing is that like, these are kids who are writing these plays and that's just another conversation in it of itself because why do kids have to write about traumatic experiences? Have we not given any thought that that's a little fucked up? Not them writing it, but they shouldn't have to have that burden to bear. Like the translation from a high school voice through an adult's direction may go well or it may not so I hope they all take the care to make sure no one gets hurt in this process.
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