Albright Community Theatre's production of 'columbinus' tackles issues of gun violence
Albright Community Theatre will be performing "columbinus" on the weekends of Aug. 5-20.
Inspired by the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School, the play by Stephen Karam, PJ Paparelli, and Patricia Hersch is a blending of fact and fiction that illuminates the realities of adolescent culture by exploring the events surrounding the shootings. In this production, excerpts from discussions with parents, survivors and community leaders in Littleton as well as police evidence bring to light the dark recesses of American adolescence.
"I have often questioned whether this show is a memorial to the ones who lost their lives that day, or are the real victims the ones left behind to sift through the pain and torment of existing in a world where staring down the barrel of a gun is far more real than we could ever imagine, and yet still be left with the age old question, why?," says director JP Quirk of South Elgin. "Marie Curie said, 'Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.' Hopefully this show will offer even a small fraction of understanding as to why this happened and where we go from here."
Cast members include: Jon Witt of Naperville; Zach Falvo of Batavia; Jonah Harder of Montgomery; Nick Schaeffler of Warrenville; Ayden Lopez of Schaumburg; Mollie Peery of North Aurora; Marissa Banker of Warrenville; and Gemma Cohen of Batavia. "Columbinus" is directed by JP Quirk, with stage manager Erin Cauley of South Elgin.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Aug. 5, 6, 13, 19, and 20, with a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. The theater is at 100 N. Island Ave, third floor, Batavia.
Tickets cost $22 or $17 for students and seniors over 65, and can be purchased at albrighttheatre.com/tickets. Tickets are also available for cash or credit card purchase at the box office while seats are available. Reservations are recommended. For more information, contact the box office at (630) 406-8838.
The Albright Community Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is entirely volunteer driven. Since it first opened in 1974, the Albright has celebrated the dramatic arts and enjoys sharing the love of theater with surrounding communities.