#ENOUGH Presents Nationwide Reading of Youth Plays to Confront Gun Violence

The #ENOUGH Nationwide Reading is the culmination of a yearlong theatre activism initiative that started with a call for submissions from teens to write 10-minute plays that confront the issue of gun violence. We received 184 submissions from 23 states and 3 countries and a panel of award-winning playwrights including Lauren Gunderson, David Henry Hwang, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Robert Schenkkan, and Karen Zacarías selected this year’s top seven plays.

A screen capture from the final production.

We're inviting you to join our ground-breaking initiative and produce a staged reading of these plays in your community on December 14th, the 8-year remembrance of the shootings at Sandy Hook.

#ENOUGH is making this collection of plays available for free to any theatre, school, college, or community organization to produce a reading on December 14th along with dozens of other groups across the country . These readings can be streamed virtually or held in-person wherever that is possible and safe. Your participation in the #ENOUGH Nationwide Reading with local artists is an opportunity for your community to confront gun violence.

A Note from #ENOUGH Founder and Producer, Michael Cotey

“I’m an El Pasoan. I know firsthand about the ways an act of gun violence can ripple through a community. I am also a theatremaker, and I saw #ENOUGH as my opportunity to use my art to help convey to others a glimpse of what gun violence can do to not only a community at large, but also an individual.” 

- Demian, 12th grade

I founded #ENOUGH on the belief that young people like Demian can become powerful activists through the art they create.  #ENOUGH launched in 2019 shortly after the consecutive mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. By then I had already witnessed a powerful youth movement emerge shortly after the senseless shooting in Parkland the year prior. March for Our Lives, Students Demand Action and other activist groups were organized, passionate, and rightfully angry. Young people took to the streets (and continue to do so) to manifest the change they wanted to see in the world while policymakers continuously failed to rise to the challenge. 

I was inspired. The purpose of #ENOUGH became clear: lend our stages to amplify this growing voice so that it continues to be heard. 

#ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and incite meaningful action in communities across the country. Our mission is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation's spirit of activism and providing a platform for America's playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today.

This generation has proven themselves to be the generation of empathy, justice, and equity - everything the theatre celebrates. Their voice and perspective are what we desperately need to be listening to, both in society and in the theatre. #ENOUGH's mission is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation's spirit of activism and providing a platform for America's playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today.

Adelaide, Eislinn, Azya, Debkanya, Olivia, Sarah, and Elizabeth represent the bold, brave voices of the future of American theatre. 

Earlier this year they answered our call for 10-minute plays centered on gun violence. Chosen by a panel of award-winning playwrights including Lauren Gunderson, David Henry Hwang, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Robert Schenkkan and Karen Zacaríasheir, their plays are thought-provoking, audacious, and vital. In two weeks their plays will impact countless lives as the catalyst for necessary conversations about gun violence as part of The Nationwide Reading in nearly 50 communities and The Digital Premiere streaming worldwide on Broadway on Demand. 

This is only just the beginning for #ENOUGH. As we turn a successful pilot year into an ongoing initiative, we aspire:

  • To promote playwriting as tool of self-expression and social change;

  • To provide young writers of all backgrounds equitable opportunities to learn the craft of playwriting through high quality curriculum that is easily accessible;

  • To emphasize the power and importance of process, versus product or prestige;

  • To create opportunities where next generation writers can engage with professional playwrights that nurture their development;

  • To cultivate a new pipeline in the American theatre that champions young voices and creates a path for those voices to be heard through publishing and production;

  • To create a growing community of young dramatists that can support and learn from each other.

Meet the Playwrights

Azya Lyons - age 17 - Mississippi

Playwright of Togetha

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I write and, in order to begin, you just have to have the motivation to create and revise.

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

The arts have helped keep me inspired and have continuously brought attention to social issues that aren't getting the coverage they need.

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I created Togetha and I wrote it because I felt compelled to write a play with characters that I know a lot of people could relate to.

What impact has it had?

It's made me rethink how I write and the subject matter of my writing, and I'm very thankful for that.

Elizabeth Shannon - age 17 - Maryland

Playwright of Loaded Language

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I am a playwright. I have always been interested in writing, and tried writing plays/stories, but held myself back because I thought that I was terrible. When I was a sophomore in high school, I had to write a play in a group for a class project. I fell in love with writing (and with my group’s play). After our play won one festival and got accepted into another, I decided to try my hand at writing more plays, and I haven’t stopped since.

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

I have been involved with the arts for as long as I can remember, and I genuinely don’t know who I would be without them. Being an actor has definitely informed my writing and helped me become the writer I am today. In general, the arts have given me multiple communities and support systems throughout my life, and has not only allowed, but encouraged, me to learn about lives and perspectives different than my own.

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I wrote a short play called Loaded Language, as a part of the #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence project. I created it in response to the gun violence crisis in the United States, and the sad reality that many people in this country live in fear that either they or one of their loved ones will have their lives ripped away from them at any given moment due to gun violence. As a high schooler, and someone who has grown up in the age of school shootings and lockdown drills, I wanted to showcase the underlying fear and anxiety about school shootings that accompanies many students every day, even when they are safe or there is just a “false alarm”.

What impact has it had?

I’m not quite sure of what impact it’s had right now, but I hope that it (along with the rest of the amazing #ENOUGH plays) will start a conversation about gun violence and how it specifically impacts several distinct communities. I also hope that it will encourage students to be more open with their experiences and fears involving gun violence and mass shootings and will give school districts a perspective as to what goes through many students’ minds on a daily basis. Schools should be a safe place to be, but the sad reality is that many students do not think that they are.

Eislinn Gracen - age 16 - Florida

Playwright of Guns in Dragonland

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

Playwriting and acting. I started acting when I was 7 and it grew into all things theater. I wrote my first full length play my freshman year of high school and it won in a local new play festival.

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

The arts have given me a place and purpose. I don’t know where I would be without an artistic way to express myself.

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

My piece is called Guns in Dragonland. I created it based on a conversation I had with my eight year old brother about a recent lockdown he had. The original idea was inspired by early 2000s cartoons and my personal experiences in elementary school.

What impact has it had?

My play was previously read as a new piece at Beth Marshall’s Top Teens showcase. Though the script has changed a lot since then, it seems to really resonate with people on an emotional level. For me personally, it has taught me a lot about how I want to approach the writing of my plays in the future.

Adelaide Fisher - age 16 - Florida

Playwright of Ms. Martin’s Malaise

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I am a playwright! I began playwriting with a contest I did in 7th grade, called Young Playwrights for Change, where I wrote a short play on the topic of bullying that actually ended up winning second place!

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

I've been doing theatre basically my entire life, so it has always been a big part of my world and is one of the things that I'm most passionate about. I also think the time I spend acting helps me as a writer, because I've seen first hand what things I do and don't like or find helpful in a script. I'm hoping that my play and all the other wonderful plays from the other playwrights can inspire some real change and action in the movement for better gun control.

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I wrote "Miss Martin's Malaise". I created it after conversations I had with my present and former principals, talking about experiences they have had with gun violence in schools and the stress it creates for them. I thought that that was a very interesting and slightly different perspective on the issue, and it also gave me real, accurate source material to draw from , since I have thankfully never been a victim of gun violence myself. I wanted to show that side of the story, one that maybe doesn't always get seen as much as the student side.

What impact has it had?

So far this piece has allowed me to have those conversations about gun violence with my principals and other people in my life. In this crazy time it has also created an opportunity for the cast of my show to be able to get together and do theatre again. I am excited to see the impact these pieces continue to have as they are live streamed, and I hope they spark new ideas and important conversations within the people who watch them.

Debkanya Mitra - age 18 - Maryland

Playwright of Malcolm

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I write plays. I began when a teaching artist came to my fifth grade class, and taught us how to do playwriting.

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

Art has made my world more flavorful. It's given me a lot of ideas, a lot to think about, and leaves me inspired. In my non-art work, my experiences with art have led me to pursue creative solutions.

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I wrote a play called MALCOLM. I created it because the issue of police brutality was on my mind, and by writing MALCOLM, I had the opportunity to put some of my thoughts to paper.

What impact has it had?

By writing MALCOLM and watching it develop, I've spent more time thinking about the issues of gun violence and police brutality. Through readings, I hope that it'll lead other people to spend time thinking about these issues.

Sarah Schecter - age 18 - California

Playwright of Hullabaloo

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I am mainly a community organizer and theatre artist! I began to study playwriting at Oakland School for the Arts, a public charter school focused on art, in 9th grade. Coming from Oakland—a city which is a haven for social action and artistic expression—has had a huge impact on what I do now.

I began telling stories when I was very young, loving the absurd. My grandmother would listen and write them out. Jewish traditions of storytelling and interpretation have had a huge influence on the way I adapt and tell stories.

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

Theatre has heavily influenced my worldview: I now see things through stories, audiences, and representation. I have written 19 plays since 8th grade, which have been a conduit for me to learn about psychology, humanity, and history. My produced plays have explored topics from diasporic Jewish identity and the pandemic to Californian wildfires and recidivism. 

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I wrote “Hullabaloo,” which draws on the spectacle of the circus and the Wild West to explore the history of gun culture in America.

One thing that struck me while brainstorming is that gun violence isn’t necessarily some story to tell. Rather, it interrupts stories, meaning people’s lives. There are some simple truths I wanted to address: gun violence exists outside of school shootings. Gun violence existed before the 21st century. Society sees school shootings as divorced events, and beyond that, many don’t recognize that guns were used to colonize land and enforce chattel slavery. This frustrates me, so I wrote about guns as a spectacle and explored American gun lore.

What impact has it had?

So far, the personal impact of “Hullabaloo” has been immense. I feel affirmed as a young playwright, and know that it’s possible to continue broadening the scope of my writing. I initially didn’t even know how to tackle gun violence in a play, but I hope this helps show others that varied approaches to big problems are important. Honestly, these plays feel just as tangible as the efforts and results of my lobbying for common sense gun reform, because they are unexpected. Theatre starts conversations!

Olivia Ridley - age 18 - New Jersey

Playwright of Ghost Gun

What do you do and how did you begin doing it?

I am a playwright, slam poet, performer, and musical artist. I've always really been fascinated by the notion that the arts and activism/political science could intersect and work together to initiate change. This is what motivates most of my art. I always think of the Toni Morrison quote, "All good art is political"; all art has some political meaning, and all political science is an artform. 

How have the arts led to change in your work and world?

The knowledge and understanding that I have gained through participating in the arts has completely redefined me as a person and shaped who I am. I very adamantly believe that the arts are indispensable to the process of social/political change. I don't seek to diminish the importance of policy, as this is what can bring some of the most tangible and sure change. But, often times, it fails to spark discussion over why change must be made, nor does it leave room for nuance or give people the space to ponder their previously held thoughts or opinions. Furthermore, some of the most impactful political change has begun with a movement; it has taken the persuasion of art and writing and speechmaking and poetry to spark the social movements that have produced the most effective and meaningful advancements. 

What is the piece you created? Why did you create it?

I wrote the piece titled GHOST GUN, a 10-minute monologue delivered by a young black boy to his audience held at gunpoint. Instead of being one, singular issue, gun violence is an amalgamate of separate issues that come together to create one nationwide concern. I felt that some of its components weren't given enough attention in the dialogue surrounding this issue, and so I sought to bring these lesser known parts to light - particularly race and class - and demonstrate why they are intrinsic to the gun violence conversation.

What impact has it had?

I hope for my piece to give young black boys a place in the gun violence conversation. For something that so harshly plagues low-income communities, it really shocked me that this issue wasn't more popularly discussed. So I hope to spark these discussions, to eliminate the notion that black boys are inherently aggressive, and to shed light on the truth behind the decay of young black men in the US.