LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Let's hear it for the kids

On the evening of Monday Oct. 6, 2025, I watched live theater in Rio Rancho. Six heartbreaking, disturbing, and thoroughly engrossing stories.

I was among the audience for “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence,” which featured staged readings of short plays by teen playwrights. The plays were performed by actors (young and old) from our community and directed by local directors — one of whom is a student at Cleveland High School. I’ve never seen anything like it. These new works were curated to spark critical conversations and inspire action in communities nationwide. Yes, nationwide. Because this was happening not only in Rio Rancho — these same six plays were being performed all over the country on that very night, in communities like ours, with local artists and producers mounting their own productions. We were part of something vast, a collective of young voices, demanding to be heard. Enlightening us. Connecting us. Challenging us.

The two organizations that made it happen here at home are Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads (www.rr-cc.org) and Open Arts Studio NM (@openartsstudionm). These folks are to be commended for having the guts to create theater that dares to hold a mirror to the current situation of our youth. I have seen many plays — Broadway shows, community theater productions, and plays put on by college and university theater departments. I myself have directed about a hundred plays in educational and community settings. Many, many plays. But I have never seen plays as essential as the ones in “ENOUGH!”

I was glad to see so many people in the audience. Among us were several policy makers: representatives from Corrales and Albuquerque municipal governments, Sandoval County, lawmakers from our state Legislature, and even a spokesperson for our congresswoman. Shockingly, not a single representative of the city of Rio Rancho was there. None of the six council members. No city manager. No mayor. Why not?

Why did Rio Rancho elected officials have no concern to support our youth on this night? What are they doing to confront gun violence in our community?

Despite my disappointment in those adults, my faith was elevated that our young people are doing great things and harnessing the power of the theater. There they were, the next generation of artists and activists, onstage fearlessly lighting a bonfire of hope. Calling us to action.

I heard you, kids. I’m here for you. And I promise, I’ll do whatever I can to help.

Yours,

Jonathan Dunski

Rio Rancho