Activist actors remember Virginia Tech victims
By Megan Krause, Campus Life writer
April 20, 2008 | 10:41 p.m.
A lone voice spoke on North Green Wednesday morning proclaiming, “Every day is a brand-new day. Do you people know that you’re alive?” Students remembered the Virginia Tech tragedy in many ways. Student actors chose to use the stage.
Members of the Ohio University political arts group, Up in Arms, staged a one-night performance of William Mastrosimone's play "Bang, Bang You're Dead!" to spread awareness on campus.
The play was written to inform the masses about school violence.
"'Bang, Bang You're Dead' is a resource for dealing with a broken world that's violent, unhealthy, unfair and beyond the power of anyone to fix except today's generation," according to the "Bang, Bang You're Dead" Web site.
The play not only tells a tragedy, but also shows the audience a window into the lives of the chain of people one event can affect.
Mastrosimone produced this play with the help of drama students at Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore., where one student was killed and 25 were wounded during a school shooting in 1998. Not all citizens of Springfield approved of the dramatization of such a serious event, according to a local newspaper report.
Up in Arms was inspired to put on this performance by the anniversary of the violence at Virginia Tech. After researching school violence and rehearsing the play, the group decided to make it about school violence in general.
A piece of information that swayed the group's decision was that school violence affects students of all ages.
"I think that there are far too many people who refuse to acknowledge that violence is present in all schools," actor sophomore Dinah Berkeley said.
Mastrosimone offers "Bang, Bang You're Dead" as a free tool for anyone who wishes to use it. He encourages actors to perform the piece wherever it will spark conversation about the issue, whether it be at a formal theater or on a street corner.
Up in Arms took the playwright's advice to discuss the show by offering a discussion and candle-light vigil in honor of the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting after their second performance of the play.
The deep emotion and serious themes of the play are especially relevant on the anniversary of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Although the play is meant to be emotional, it is also meant to open up room for discussion about why school violence is so prevalent today and how it can be reduced. Spreading awareness is the first step in creating change, Berkeley said.
"Bang, Bang You're Dead" is associated with Ribbon of Promise, a non-profit organization trying to end school violence. The organization was also a response to the Thurston High School shooting. Advocates of Ribbon of Promise strive to spread awareness and provide resources to help communities cope with similar tragedies.
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For more information or for a copy of the play, visit BangBangYoureDead.com