SYNOPSIS: The plays – all written by high school students – tackle gun violence through different perspectives, from the threat of and anxiety over school shootings, police shooting, community violence, race, and gun culture in American history.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14 @ 7:00 PM (Central).
Join us for a powerful, live reading on Zoom. Following the 90 minute reading, stay in our virtual space for a group discussion and share actions you can take.
Tickets are no longer available. You will be sent the Zoom link the night before the reading and again 1 hour before it starts. For any questions, contact Associate Producer Elyse Dolan at ElyseD@AmericanBluesTheater.com.
About #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence
American Blues Theater is proud to announce its participation in the Nationwide Reading of the seven winning plays of #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence, a national short play competition for middle and high school students. On Dec 14, 2020 — the 8-year remembrance of the shootings at Sandy Hook — the winning titles will be performed and directed by American Blues teaching artists, professional artists, Chicago Public School teachers and students, as well as 50 communities, theatres, and schools across the country and abroad.
More details on all seven winning playwrights, including bios and headshots, and their plays, can be found online here.
Learn more about this national premiere here.
Resources for Gun Violence-Related Trauma
For those coping with traumatic grief, PTSD, or another form of gun violence-related trauma, below are some resources that can help provide you with the tools and information that you may need.
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION RESOURCES FOR COPING WITH MASS SHOOTINGS – Resources for those who are suffering distress related to mass shootings and gun violence, including information on helping your children manage distress.
DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE – a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS – a collection of resources and information about coping with traumatic grief, PTSD, children’s responses to trauma, and more from Everytown For Gun Safety
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE – a comprehensive collection of resources compiled by Team ENOUGH.
Additional support : ABC7’s Stop the Violence – ABC7 Chicago created an in-depth collection of local resources that address violence & gun violence. March for our Lives – founded by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, this organization harnesses the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives. Students Demand Action – a national movement of young activists committed to ending gun violence in their communities.
Creative Team for the American Blues Reading
MS. MARTIN’S MALAISE – director: Nevada Montgomery; cast: McKennzie Boyd, Mikayla Boyd, Edward Berber Medrano, Carolyn Minor, Olivia Ruiz, & Sterling Schingoethe.
GUNS IN DRAGONLAND – director: Carolyn Minor, assistant director: Olivia Ruiz; cast: John Benetti & Julianne Gutierrez.
TOGETHA – director: Nevada Montgomery; cast: Lanai Cola, Marlee Feacher, Gabby Soliel, & Reagan West.
MALCOLM – director: Brandon Boler; cast: Andy Feingold-Fisher, Wyatt Kent, Nevada Montgomery, & Jeremy Deshaun Willis.
GHOST GUN – director: Manny Buckley; cast: Matthew Elam.
HULLABALOO – director: Kate Leslie; cast: Brandon Boler, Edward Berber Medrano, & Sterling Schingoethe.
LOADED LANGUAGE – director: Carolyn Minor; cast: Eli Ander Bigelsen, McKennzie Boyd, Mikayla Boyd, Andy Fiengold-Fisher, & Julianne Gutierrez.
Resources for Emotional and Racial Trauma
Those looking for or needing counseling or a safe space to heal from emotional or racial trauma, below are some resources that can help provide you with the tools and information that you may need.
ASSOCIATION OF BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS SELF-CARE TOOL KIT – a self-care tool kit for families & communities. Written in English and Spanish.
BLACK EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE – collective committed to the emotional/mental health and healing of Black communities.
RACIAL TRAUMA RESOURCES – racial trauma resources compiled by the Borough of Manhattan Community College.
RESOURCES FOR BLACK HEALING – black healing resources from the University of North Carolina Wilmington Counseling Center.
SAFE BLACK SPACE – creates opportunities for Black people to heal and thrive.