Hillside Drama Presents “State of Urgency” Addressing Gun Violence To Peers, Community
DURHAM, N.C. – Durham Public Schools (DPS) and Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead will co-host matinee, school day presentations of the critically acclaimed and highly successful play State of Urgency at the historic Hillside High School on February 15-17.
Teachers interested in facilitating student field trips to a matinee show are encouraged to work through their principals. The link for DPS Teachers to register for the matinees can be found here: bit.ly/hhsstateofurgency (Please obtain prior approval from your Principal before registering.) While admission and transportation costs are covered, teachers must register their students for the show via the shared Google Form and complete a field trip request via Travel Tracker to secure transportation. Please note that the field trip advanced notice deadline has been waived. Please complete your registration as soon as possible.
Sheriff Birkhead will be present for a series of community conversations with DPS students immediately after the presentations. Members of the district’s Student Support Services staff will also participate in the conversations as well, according to Dr. Laverne Mattocks-Perry, Senior Executive Director of Student Support Services.
“Lesson preparations and guiding questions are being shared with teachers to ensure that discussions are instructive,” said Mattocks-Perry.
Sheriff Birkhead says he appreciates the district’s effort to prioritize safety and wellness among its students.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see this play and was moved by its strong message to open up communication between our young people about the devastating impact gun violence has,” Sheriff Birkhead said. “This is a great opportunity for all students, families, law enforcement, school administrators, counselors, and other support groups to have an honest and upfront dialogue in a safe space to address this critical issue plaguing our local community and country. We invite every school across Durham County to attend, participate and join us.”
State of Urgency is an original, thought-provoking, and insightful play first presented in the fall of 2021 by the Hillside High School Drama Department. Written by former Hillside Drama Director Wendell Tabb along with Hillside theatre students, the production gives an honest glimpse of social justice issues in America. After every performance, Mr. Tabb had a conversation with his students about what they learned because each play has a strong message.
“State of Urgency is our outcry for people to listen and act,” said Aniyah Lowe, Drama Club President and a member of Hillside High School’s class of 2023.
“With so much violence and unrest going on in the world, it was easy for me to consider a show that would address social justice issues such as gun violence, police brutality, racism, discrimination, and poverty to name a few,” said Wendell Tabb, who retired as Director of Theatre in 2022. Tabb wrote and directed the play before he retired.
“I wanted to do my part as a change agent, as the arts can be used to address gun violence. My commitment to our school and community led me to create an original play to address these social issues. I am proud of the voices that Hillside students have given to these topics that are having a major impact on their lives daily.”
Dr. Pascal Mubenga, DPS Superintendent, notes the power of education and collaboration.
“Sheriff Birkhead’s offer is an acknowledgment of our students’ power and agency to make a difference, which also elevates this district’s mission,” he said.
That mission is centered around DPS’s students and preparing them for life after graduation, said Hillside High School Principal Dr. William Logan, who is also the district’s Principal of the Year.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to engage, inform and educate our community about both an age-old and contemporary issue plaguing and dismantling our society, specifically our youth. It is our steadfast hope that through this earnest artistic expression, our students will make a difference in the lives of their peers and citizens globally.”