Young Tampa artists come together to say 'Enough' to gun violence
ThinkTank Theatre’s reading will coincide with those in 49 other communities nationwide during the annual event.
By Claire Farrow
In recent weeks, gun violence has once again been brought front and center in conversation, debate, and reality across the country. It’s an ever-festering epidemic that has claimed close to 11,000 lives so far in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Florida is no stranger to gun violence that grips the nation’s focus – Trayvon Martin, Parkland, Pulse – and that’s just scratching the surface of this deep wound.
That’s why 50 communities nationwide are coming together to read “diverse and urgent stories exploring the many angles of gun violence in America – from classrooms to neighborhoods to families,” during an annual event aimed at ending gun violence.
ThinkTank Theatre is participating in the 2025 Nationwide Reading of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence on Oct. 6, representing the city of Tampa. The theatre says this is the third time it’s participating in the reading – a series of brand-new, 10-minute plays written by teenagers.
“These plays cut straight to the heart of what it means to grow up in America today,” says Michael Cotey, creator of ENOUGH! and Joaquin Oliver Artistic Producer. “They remind us that the voices most impacted by gun violence – young people – are also among the most powerful in driving change.”
This year’s event features six plays chosen from more than 120 submissions after being reviewed by a panel including nationally-recognized dramatists, New York Times-bestselling author Jason Reynolds, and retired congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
Florida connection
One of those six plays was written by Florida high schooler Ian Hodges. The Martin County High School junior wrote “Nobody Cares About Death.”
“Death has written a book, and boy, does he have a lot to say. In his first televised interview, Death reveals he’s been getting a lot busier lately–and he’s really sick of visiting schools. A searing look at the cycles of violence we’ve grown too numb to break.”
According to ThinkTank, Tampa’s reading will feature the following performers – Tampa Bay area notables: Cranstan Cumberbatch, Adrian De La Rosa, Randi J. Norman, and Georgios Tsambis; as well as ThinkTank’s Young Artists Ensemble, including: Erin Gordon, Skye Stockard, Ashlin Sullivan, and Ava Zientek.
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence is directed by John M. Perez with production assistance from ThinkTank’s Artistic Director Georgia Mallory Guy, and YAE member Mary Pope.
“The conversations surrounding guns and gun control are hardly conversations at all… It’s often the voices of angry protestors, dismissive politicians, and ultimately, nothing gets done,” director John Perez says. “ENOUGH! Plays allow for a voice that is most overlooked, but also the most affected by this issue: students. It allows for their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to be told in their own words. It is my hope that the Tampa Bay community will not only hear these words read by Tampa Bay students, but really listen. Because then maybe, something can be done.”
ThinkTank’s staged reading will be accompanied by a talkback panel led by Freddy Barton of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, along with members of area community organizations and residents of the Tampa Bay area.
Before you go
Please note – these plays openly discuss (but don’t graphically describe) school shootings, officer-involved shootings, suicide, and domestic violence.
If you go
What: ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence
When: 7:15 PM, Oct. 6. Doors open at 6:45 PM, event end is expected by 9 PM
Where: Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC, 522 N Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
How much: Pay-what-you-can donation ($5-$10 recommendation)
Claire Farrow
Claire Farrow
Avery Anderson