Morning Ex Preview: “26 Pebbles”

Content warning: gun violence
Upper School students gathered at Monday’s Morning Ex to learn about the activism and development of this year’s fall play, 26 Pebbles, a docudrama set in Newtown, Connecticut six months after the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Written by Eric Ulola, the play is based on interviews he conducted with Newtown community members reflecting on the rebuilding and rebirth of their community after the devastating events of December 14, 2012.

Upper School Performing Arts teacher and director Cassie Slater explained, “We chose this play so the audience might learn, find hope and expand beyond the violence.”

Slater began the presentation by providing background information about Newtown and described the setting—on display behind them—of a Town Hall meeting and the various community member characters who are represented at the meeting—a mother, a local business owner, an activist, a community organizer, a rabbi and more.

Bringing these characters to life are four students, three faculty and staff members and three professional actors— Stef Tovar, Ann Delaney and Sean Fawcett—working in Chicago. The professional actors spoke about their experience working with the students. Delaney said, “I have been so impressed by their incredible fearlessness and have been inspired every Saturday.”

The topic of gun violence is heavy and highly emotional. The cast discussed creating safe spaces and strong support for themselves as they worked to produce the play and their connection with Chicago Survivors, an organization that offers support and counseling to families after violent loss—also last year’s Berkowitz Award winner—to learn best practices for handling this intense topic.

True to Parker’s mission, students are taking the play’s topic further through activism. Eight students have conducted research and are spreading awareness about three organizations that are actively combating gun violence, addressing mental health and recognizing warning signs: Sandy Hook Promise, Student Against Violence Everywhere and the Say Something Program.

The students expressed the importance of using your voice and speaking to trusted adults upon noticing warning signs and threats, then passed around cards that shared these steps along with phone numbers for various crisis lifelines.

As Head of the Upper School Chris Arnold mentioned in a note to Upper School families this week, this Morning Ex occurred almost at the same time as the school shooting in St. Louis. He noted that the impacted school was for visual and performing arts students, and this production features student, amateur and professional actors. As a sign of respect and reminder of why this play was chosen, there will be a moment of silence before each performance.

The final performance of 26 Pebbles is Friday, October 28 at 7 p.m. Seating is limited, as the audience will be on stage with the performers. There will be viewer advisories, stress balls and designated quiet areas available for audience members to process the content. Upper School students have been advised to reach out to counselors if they need time for additional processing.

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