Albright Theatre Tackles Gun Violence Issues With New Production

BATAVIA, IL — On a few weekends in August, The Albright Community Theatre will enact "Columbinus," a play inspired by the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School.

The play — originally written in 2007 by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli — blends fact with fiction to highlight the realities of youth culture by exploring the events surrounding the shooting, according to theater staff. Show-goers will witness excerpts from discussions with parents, survivors and Littleton, Colorado community leaders and police "to 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 [were] 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?" Director JP Quirk said in a statement.

The South Elgin-based artist continued: "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, coming from across the Fox River Valley, include the following:

• 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
• Gemma Cohen, of Batavia

Erin Cauley, of South Elgin, is serving as stage manager for Albright Theatre's production of "Columbinus."

Performances at the nonprofit theater, located at 100 N. Island Ave. in Batavia, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 6, 13, 19 and 20. A matinee performance is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 14.

Tickets cost $22 for adults and $17 for students and seniors over 65 years old.