Recommended by Greg Burdick

Based on the tragic events at the Tree of Life Congregation in October of 2018, Rachael Carnes depicts two men who are brothers in faith, in experience, and in devotion to maintaining the safety of their place of worship- after gun violence threatens to rip it apart. Carnes recommends the piece to be used to welcome audience members (the actors serving as ushers,) as they file in. What better way to begin a festival of shorts protesting mass shootings than to station two brothers at the back of the house who “seek peace and pursue it.”

John Minigan’s “Velas Votivas” feels too real. His imagery. His storytelling. His characters. A parish priest recalls the impact of his aunt, and a member of his congregation... both named Marta. One sealed his fate as a spiritual leader, the other secured his commitment to the calling after disaster strikes his church. This is a beautiful monologue. Produce it as part of your anti-gun violence festival. It will be remembered.

There is a sadness that extends well beyond grief after experiencing trauma. It’s a torpor that pulls you downward, and seemingly never lets go. Alina Rios expertly captures this feeling in “When You’re Gone.” The speaker’s staggering double-loss is felt deeply when reading this piece. It could easily be one of the most memorable in a showcase of anti- gun violence plays. A profound challenge for a single actress.

Places of worship are communal spaces where families extend, grow, and widen. In Charissa Menefee’s thoughtful short, we see a married couple struggling to reunite with their extended family almost two months after a mass shooting that invaded their home away from home. She beautifully weaves the lyrics of a hymn to underscore the importance of the couple’s ties to this place. And to those who join them there. Recommended for any festival producing anti-gun violence plays.

“Slicing an Onion” is the frightening account of a mass shooting survivor. J. Lois Diamond has crafted a monologue packed with rich imagery that sizzles, permeates, and lingers long after you’ve finished reading. Confusion. Panic. Fear. Terror. And then, worse than all of these: becoming unable to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures afterward. An important piece for any anti-gun violence showcase. Gripping.

Sharai Bohannon depicts two young girls struggling to move forward in their new normal after the loss of their father, a preacher, to gun violence. Her construct of jump rope/hand clap games the girls attempt to play throughout serve as a startling metaphor: we understand when they lose their rhythm, falter, or stop altogether. The play is a grim reminder of the collateral damage that can be done in the wake of a shooting. Powerful.

NO MORE IN DARKNESS is a haunting addition to the Code Red Playwrights’ collection of gun violence shorts. Harmon’s images are powerful, but her original score and lyrics catapult the play to heights making it an experience that will dazzle and awe. She provides free-use sheet music and a pre-recorded track to facilitate production at your next anti-gun violence showcase.

Raw, spare, and yet packed to the rafters with tension and depth, “One Month Along” is an autopsy of a marriage, a friendship, and a career. Gonazlez has an economy of words in this piece that is remarkable. Rhythms created by the moments when his characters speak (and when they don’t,) will make for a compelling evening for audiences, and a delicious challenge for the actors.

The young ladies depicted in this story must navigate through some of the wildest, untamed, and most dangerous territory: adolescence. This wolf pack has each other to rely on during the journey, but there are also many challenges for dominance. They’re playing a game, but be assured- blood, sweat, and tears are all part of the deal here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. DeLappe has crafted a coming of age tale that unquestionably redefines the genre. A stunning work.

A very clever musing on love, the lack of it, connection and disconnection. Cowley gives us all tremendous hope that there is indeed someone for everyone. A quirky romantic comedy with dark undertones that will unsettle and delight.