High school students are putting on a show to commemorate the lives lost during the Columbine shooting. The play, "Columbinus," will be performed Feb. 8, at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
Students from Northwood High School and Woods Charter School teamed up to tell a story about how society can do more to prevent school shootings.
Tammy Matthews is the host of "Columbinus". She said although the play is about the Columbine shootings, it is not a re-enactment.
Matthews said on the day of the Parkland shootings, her students were very upset and decided they needed to do something about this situation. Theater provided them the opportunity to do so.
“My contention is that people aren’t talking about it," Matthews said. "When I taught in Colorado, we were told not to talk about it, when I was a school teacher and (Sandy Hook) happened, they said don’t talk about it, and when Parkland happened they said don’t talk about it. But the thing is that we need to be talking about it.”
After each performance, there will be a community discussion between the audience and actors moderated by a counselor.
Jacqueline Anthenien is one of the lead actors of "Columbinus." She wanted to be a part of this production so she could be involved in bringing awareness to school shootings.
Anthenien said the production isn’t just focused on gun control or the prevention of school shootings, but it’s about getting the audience to think more about the situations that students face — and this is what she likes about the play.
"Even if it's the slightest bit, this play could change things," Anthenien said. "I wanted to be involved in that change."
