By Zach Dulli, The Scene
What if your words could change the world? Not someday, but now. That’s the audacious question ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence is once again asking teens nationwide. In an era where gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and teens in America, ENOUGH! offers young writers a chance to respond with courage, creativity, and conviction. If you’re a theatre educator—or a teen with something to say—this isn’t just an opportunity. It’s a movement.
Why ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence Matters
The statistics are heartbreaking: gun violence casts a shadow over our schools, communities, and daily lives. For teens, that shadow is deeply personal. ENOUGH! understands this, and since its founding in 2019, the initiative has used the transformative power of theatre to spark dialogue and inspire action. By inviting teens to write 10-minute plays on gun violence, ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence empowers them to turn their fear, anger, and hope into art.
And the impact? Nothing short of remarkable. ENOUGH! has received nearly 600 plays from teens across the country, published 21 of them in partnership with Playscripts, and hosted three nationwide readings that have reached over 14,000 people. These readings, performed simultaneously by schools, theatres, and organizations across the U.S., foster vital conversations and raise funds for local gun violence prevention efforts.
Calling All Teen Writers: Your Voice Matters
Back again for 2025, ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence is once again blending artistry with activism as they urge teenage playwrights across the United States to continue to engage in this most pressing issue through the powerful medium of theatre. If you’re a teen with a story to tell, ENOUGH! wants to hear it. Submissions for the 2025 cycle open on January 1, 2025, and close on April 1, 2025. You can find the complete list of guidelines, eligibility requirements, submission deadlines, and more by visiting their website at enoughplays.com/writing.
The Six Selected Playwrights Will Each Receive:
- A $500 stipend.
- Play published in the next ENOUGH! Anthology by Playscripts.
- Membership to the Dramatists Guild.
- Written feedback by the Selection Committee of professional playwrights.
- An opportunity to have their play workshopped over a virtual platform in June-July, in collaboration with professional theatre artists, courtesy of the Dramatists Guild.
- Play produced as part of the Nationwide Reading on October 6, 2025.
But more than the accolades, this is about making your voice heard. As past teen playwrights have proven, there’s no age limit on powerful storytelling.
For Theatre Educators: A Call to Action
Theatre teachers, this is where you come in. You know your students are already grappling with the issue of gun violence—whether through headlines, personal experiences, or the ever-present fear of what might happen at school. ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence allows them to process those feelings creatively and constructively.
This isn’t just about writing plays; it’s about empowering students to articulate their truths and build empathy, understanding, and action through theatre. ENOUGH! provides everything you need to bring this opportunity to your classroom, including two newly refreshed toolkits you can download today.
The refreshed Writer’s Toolkit guides students through the playwriting process. This 25+ page resource for both first-time playwrights and experienced young writers includes:
- A road map for writing your ENOUGH! Play
- Writing prompts to help spark the creative process
- Pro tips from professional playwrights
- Gun violence statistics and other resources
- Full submission guidelines, project timeline, posters to print and display at school, and more!
- Click here to download the Writer’s Toolkit.
The updated Educator’s Toolkit is also available as a companion kit for educators and includes additional resources and lesson plans to introduce ENOUGH! to students.
As ENOUGH! reminds us you don’t have to be an expert in gun violence—or even playwriting—to join this movement. The wonderful team who run the ENOUGH! program is there to support you every step of the way. In addition to the tools kits and website, you can ask questions at [email protected].
The Nationwide Reading: October 6, 2025
If you’ve never experienced an ENOUGH! Play’s to End Gun Violence Nationwide Reading, mark your calendar for October 6, 2025. Theatres, schools, and organizations of all sizes will perform the six selected plays simultaneously across the country. These readings are more than performances; they’re evenings of reflection, dialogue, and community action.
Participation is free, and you can host a reading in your community. Theatres, schools, and other organizations interested in participating on October 6th can learn more at enoughplays.com/reading.
A Movement Rooted in Hope
At its core, ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence is about hope—hope that storytelling can spark change, that young voices can lead the way, and that communities can come together to confront one of the most pressing issues of our time.
So, whether you’re a teen ready to write, a teacher eager to champion this project, or a theatre looking to host a reading, now is the time to get involved. The deadline is April 1, 2025, but the journey starts today. Let’s change the world—one play at a time. Are you ready to say ENOUGH?
Important Links & Dates:
- Submissions Open: January 1, 2025
- Submissions Close: April 1, 2025
- Submit Your Play: enoughplays.com/submit
- The 2025 Writer’s Toolkit: Download here
- The 2025 Educator’s Toolkit: Download here
- Nationwide Reading Date: October 6, 2025
- Official Website: enoughplays.com
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence Published Volumes
- 1st Volume of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence: Playscripts Link
- 2nd Volume of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence: Playscripts Link
- 3rd Volume of ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence: Playscripts Link
