The production will take place in four different venues during its run this week. The play is adult-oriented; children ages 12 to 16 should attend with an adult.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Common Folk will host the play "Venable 8: Three Lessons on Gun Violence" followed by a conversation in hopes to disarm the difficult discussion about gun violence in schools.
The local artist's collective production of the three-act play this week examines gun violence in the classroom, why it occurs and how it can be prevented.
"This is really an attempt to dig a little bit deeper and have a healthy and safe conversation around a very unsafe topic but also involve art," Common Folk Creative Director Jessica Sweeney said.
Sweeney said the first act, "A Child's Game," written by Benjamin M. Baylon, is a dream-like sequence during which Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza is confronted by one of the children he killed.
She said the second act, "Class Act, Version 379," by Holly J. Jensen, explores how homophobia can play into gun violence.
'
The final act, "Trofimov, a Student," by William Orem, is about a student who after receiving a bad grade attempts to intimidate his teacher with a gun.
Sweeney said each act is followed by a conversation so the audience can comfortably talk about gun violence with the cast, crew and each other.
She said the conversations are not designed to be pro-gun or anti-gun.
"It is really about creating a safe environment to have these discussions because it is a scary conversation," She said. "We just want to have a conversation about the reality of guns in our lives, our community and the world and to be more comfortable talking about it."
Each show will take place in a different location, which will affect the conversation after each scene.
"Each show will really be unique and the different environments will offer different opportunities that will affect the conversation," she said.
Sweeney said the Thursday, Dec. 1, show will be at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art at 7 p.m. and is already sold out.
The Friday, Dec. 2, show will be in the North Adams Armory and the Saturday, Dec. 3, show will be at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in Venable 4. There will be showings on these dates at 7 and 9 p.m.
The performances on Sunday, Dec. 4, will be at the Roots Teen Center on Eagle Street at 2 and 4 p.m.
Sweeney said there is a live gunshot from a blank in the performance and because of the subject matter, children under the age of 12 will not be allowed in and those under the age of 16 are urged to come with an adult.
She added that the shows will have small audiences of no more than 30 seated at desks in a classroom-type setting.
"It is intense and we want to be able to support people in the room when we have this conversation," she said.
Sweeney said the play format also helps evoke emotion without actually putting anyone in danger.
"I have seen how theater can so help someone better understand the world around them," she said. "It is one thing to have a conversation but to feel the impact without the risk of being in an unsafe situation and to be able to react to that emotion I think is very important."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
BAAMS' Monthly Studio 9 Series Features Mino Cinelu
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On April 20, Berkshires' Academy of Advanced Musical Studies (BAAMS) will host its fourth in a series of live music concerts at Studio 9.
Saturday's performance will feature drummer, guitarist, keyboardist and singer Mino Cinelu.
Cinelu has worked with Miles Davis, Sting, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Vicente Amigo, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Branford Marsalis, Pino Daniele, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Salif Keita.
Cinelu will be joined by Richard Boulger on trumpet and flugelhorn, Dario Boente on piano and keyboards, and Tony Lewis on drums and percussion.
Doors open: 6:30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
All proceeds will help support music education at BAAMS, which provides after-school and Saturday music study, as well as a summer jazz-band day camp for students ages 10-18, of all experience levels.
Also Saturday, the BAAMS faculty presents master-class workshops for all ages, featuring Cinelu, Boulger, Boente, Lewis and bassist Nathan Peck.
More than 300 students from area high schools entered their work in 12th annual Teen Invitational at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. click for more
Backed by a $750,000 federal grant for a planning study, North Adams and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art are looking to undo some of that damage.
click for more
"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that." click for more
With the area warming up, events are blooming in the Berkshires this weekend, including an egg hunt, live music, fitness events, and more.
click for more