This week, the Santa Fe High Thespian Society will be putting on a production of 26 Pebbles, a play about the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., where 20 children and six adults were killed.

The play takes place six months after the rampage at a City Council meeting where members of the community share their stories and discuss the incident. The characters go into emotional detail about the way the slaughter affected their hometown, and how they’re all trying to do what’s right for their city while also doing what’s right for themselves. It’s a powerful piece that deeply explores the way mass shootings and gun violence in our country affect communities.

In our world today, shows like this are not only relevant, but important for students to learn about and be aware of.

Mr. Meschefske, the director of the show and the theater teacher, says he chose the show because he “wanted a piece that we as a theater department could really sink our teeth into.” He says that now is the right time for a show like this, especially with all that has happened in the last couple of weeks. “This is one of the greatest dangers that is facing all of us. Not just school shootings, but gun violence in our country is so epidemic.”

Ben Goeller, a freshman who plays Michael in the performance, says, “It’s important that some insight is shed on what the aftermath of a tragedy is like and how it affects the community…. I think the show teaches us that the only way to get through a tragedy is together, which is an important lesson I think everyone should learn. To coexist. That’s something I really like about the show. This play is really about loving one another, which we need. Especially now.”

“Some theater is about making you laugh, some theater is about making you cry, and some theater should make you borderline uncomfortable,” says Mr. Meschefske. “And if you are a person who is thinking, ‘I don’t know if this is something that I can sit through,’ you’re probably someone that should come and see it.”

26 Pebbles runs from March 1 through March 3, at 7:33 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, and $6 for inducted Thespian Club members. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.santafehigharts.org or at the box office before the show.