"This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal."
Gun violence has become the leading cause of death among children and teens. This is NOT normal. This is NOT acceptable. ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence (www.enoughplays.com) creates space for teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and inspire 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.
Launched in 2019 by Chicago-based director Michael Cotey, has two key programs:
ENOUGH! calls on TEENS (ages 13-19) from across the country to write and submit 10-minute plays that confront the issue of gun violence. Select playwrights will be published in a collected anthology that can be licensed for future productions and their play will be produced as part of our Nationwide Reading. Writers will also be paid for their work, memberships and craft training from The Dramatists Guild, and feedback from professional playwrights.
ENOUGH! invites theaters, schools, colleges, and other organizations to produce staged readings of this year's plays for their community. Performed simultaneously across the country on the same night, these readings will be part of an evening of reflection, dialogue and action. Nearly 2,000 artists in more than 100 communities have participated across our two previous Nationwide Readings. Many have used ENOUGH! to forge meaningful community partnerships and create space for the youth of their area to be seen and heard.
