‘ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence’ Take Center Stage in Tampa
Credits: “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence”
By Tampa Bay Living Magazine staff
ThinkTank Theatre will perform “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence” (Enough!), a series of readings that address gun violence in Tampa Bay and in the U.S., on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stageworks Theatre.
“ENOUGH!” organized the event to motivate young people to fight gun violence. The play selections, chosen from 244 submissions from 36 states, include works by Idris Goodwin, Lauren Gunderson, Zora Howard, Samuel D. Hunter, David Henry Hwang, Octavio Solis and Lloyd Suh.
“These plays provide powerful insight into the perspective of a generation where the threat of gun violence has become ubiquitous with going to school growing up,” said “ENOUGH!” creator Michael Cotey in a news release. “Performing them across the country exactly a year from the next presidential election is an urgent reminder that gun violence remains a vital issue for many young voters coming of age next November.”
The program features six short plays by six talented young writers, chosen by a jury of renowned playwrights, examining gun violence from various perspectives, including classrooms, neighborhoods and families. Patrons are advised that the subject matter includes discussions but not graphic depictions of gun violence, such as school shootings, officer-involved shootings, suicide and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community, and is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Freddy Barton of Safe and Sound Hillsborough will moderate a post-performance talkback where audience members can openly discuss the plays and share their personal experiences. The event will also offer the opportunity for attendees to email their ideas to national and local officials to voice concerns about gun violence in their areas.
“These exciting and inspiring young dramatists show us once again that our nation needs their voices to say ENOUGH! to the plague of gun violence," said returning panelist judge David Henry Hwang in a news release, whose work includes the Tony Award-winning M. Butterfly and the 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist musical Soft Power.
According to a news release, admission is free, but donations are welcome.
“ENOUGH!” aims to have a reading in every state, featuring winning playwrights and community participation. More information can be found at enoughplays.com/reading.