26 Pebbles
by Eric Ulloa
Directed by Brian Yandle
April 12-28, 2024
Umstead Park United Church of Christ
8208 Brownleigh Drive, Raleigh 27617
90 minutes, no intermission
New event!
President and CEO of the United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County Jenn McEwen will be sharing her experience growing up in Newtown, CT, where 26 Pebbles takes place.
Jenn will be joined by our own Dr. Sara Thompson, our Community Engagement Coordinator, and Matara Hitchcock, our new Executive Producer, for this discussion.
Join us at 6:30pm for a thought-provoking discussion where Jenn will share her unique perspective on Sandy Hook and the impact of having her hometown thrust into the spotlight. As a seasoned theater professional, Jennifer will delve into the intricacies of representing stories that demand attention while respecting the experiences of those affected. How do plays like 26 Pebbles navigate topics like gun violence without retraumatizing the hurting?
Explore the power of storytelling in promoting empathy and understanding, and consider what it means to engage with narratives that hit close to home. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insight into the intersection of art, social justice, and community resilience.
Dr. Sara Thompson
Community Engagement Coordinator
The Justice Theater Project
PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies - University of Maryland. MA in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. BAs in Theatre, English, and History from UNC-Greensboro. Founder of That Presentation Coach Public Speaking Coaching. Dramaturg credits: JTP, Raleigh Little Theatre, Burning Coal Theatre, Women’s Theatre Festival, Georgia Shakespeare Festival, Triad Stage.
Matara Hitchcock
Executive Producer
The Justice Theater Project
MBA & MA in Theatre & Performance Studies - University of Colorado Boulder. BA in Emerging Media & Communication from the University of Texas at Dallas (McDermott Scholar). Local theaters worked with include: PlayMakers Repertory Company, Burning Coal Theatre Company, Vault Theatre, and Sweet Tea Shakespeare. She spent four years with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the CU Playback Ensemble in Boulder, CO, focused on creating space for dialogue among communities in conflict.
Jennifer Dwyer McEwen
President & CEO
United Arts
A dynamic force in arts administration. Her strategic leadership is informed by hands-on experience, including pioneering work in launching Hilton Head Island's inaugural government agency for the arts. McEwen drove growth and innovation at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, expanding its national education program, producing new work by African American playwrights, and launching community initiatives to create a safe space to discuss social justice issues. McEwen is a Leadership Triangle Goodmon Fellow, a member of Leadership Raleigh’s 47th class, named to Georgia Trend Magazine's 40 Under 40 list, and honored by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits' Nonprofit Impact Awards.
April 12-28, 2024 at Umstead Park United Church of Christ
Directed by Brian Yandle
December 14, 2012. 26 innocent lives were taken at Sandy Hook Elementary. Like pebbles thrown in a pond, these 26 deaths created ripples that are still reverberating today. The stories of the survivors and families of Newtown are told in their own words in what is not only an exploration of gun violence but a story of resilience, perseverance, hope, and outpourings of love.
“…the play focuses on the community’s struggle to cope and move forward, struggling, grieving, taking action, healing, and ultimately, loving their neighbors. It offers a rare and beautiful message of hope. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that we are somehow different after seeing this play. We are humbled by the words and actions of the people of Newtown and see ourselves in the people of this town in so many ways. We are all simply trying to live our lives without the fear of this type of massacre happening, and we often naively think it could never happen in our communities.
After seeing 26 Pebbles, we leave the theater compelled to learn more, do more, talk more, and, hopefully, listen more.”-Mary Leonard, Concord Theatre International
Three Weekends of Shows:
Opening Weekend
FRIDAY, April 12: 6:30pm Pre-show “Meet the Director” discussion on the deck with refreshments. 7:30 pm show.
SATURDAY, April 13: 6:15pm. Pre-Show Panel Discussion: “Being the Change: Ways to Get Involved and Make a Difference in Gun Policy”. Featuring Moms Demand Action, Boots On The Ground, and North Carolinians Against Gun Violence. Policy and approaches to create change in our community. Followed by 7:30pm performance.
SUNDAY, April 14: 3:30pm Matinee
Second Weekend
FRIDAY, April 19: 7:30pm show.
SATURDAY, April 20: RETIREMENT PARTY! 4:00-6:00pm before the 7:30pm show.
SUNDAY, April 21: 3:30pm show followed by Post-Show Discussion “When Peace Is Shattered: Healing and Helping with Psychological Science” with Dr. Sandra Wartaski.
Final Weekend
FRIDAY, April 26: 6:30pm Pre-show Discussion, “Staging the Change: Amplifying the Stories of Communities Affected by Gun Violence.” Featuring United Arts President & CEO Jenn McEwen, Dr. Sara Thompsen, and Matara Hitchcock. Followed by 7:30pm show
SATURDAY, April 27: 7:30pm show. Final evening performance.
SUNDAY, April 28: 3:30pm show. Closing performance.
Meet the cast of “26 Pebbles”
Page Purgar
Kevin Aponte
Geraud Staton
David Klionsky
Jerry Sipp
Lindsey Gautier
J Evarts
Stephanie Spohrer
Christine Rogers
