astoryofcolumbine

[astoryofcolumbine]

Happy October! 🎃 🐈‍⬛️

As we're nearing 12 months until our Salt Lake City run, we thought it was about time for us to start teaming up with the Utah community. This month, we are partnering with "Dream to Dance, Dare to Dream." A Utah-based dance non-profit organization that aims to transform lives through the power of dance. Complimentary posters of different sizes and colors of our upcoming run will be given out at this event later this month.

Come get your candy, free poster, and support your local businesses on October 28th! 🍬 🍫 🕺

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #Utah #salt lake #salt lake city

[astoryofcolumbine]

Since announcing our 2024 reopening, we wanted to take you behind the scenes of some of our preparation process. Including our 2024 announcement poster designs.

In July of this year, Autumn Cazier and Jaden Ware sat down to brainstorm some ideas that would best represent a symbolic interpretation of our show. With such a controversial topic, it is always a priority that the art for the show remain as tasteful and respectful as possible, and with that in mind, the two drafted some sketches based on differing perspectives.

Hence, an equally healing and eerie poster was created;

The Columbine flower, the state flower of Colorado, incorporating the school colors (blue and silver), and allowing the flower to be upfront and present, is representative of the Columbine community as a unit. Taking a stand and uniting after such a devastating tragedy.

Whereas the background is haunting and uninviting, a copy of the hallway is featured in one of Dylan and Eric's video projects, "Hitmen for Hire." And a cigarette, as they are used often in our show, tainted, and burning the Columbine. Wilting, as a town, is shattered. Representative of the infamy that will forever remain of Littleton.

We tried two differing color palettes, one reflective of the schools gray and grainy interior when viewing 90's footage, and another one in our own colors red, black, and white. Which one is your favorite? Feel free to let us know.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #rachel scott #cassie bernall

[astoryofcolumbine]

Within our recently announced plans to re-open our show next fall, we felt it best to give back to the Columbine community.

As of today, we have started a 30 day fundraiser in hopes of raising $100 for the Columbine Memorial Foundation.

Throughout the past few years, The Columbine Memorial Foundation has been short on donations to upkeep their beautiful and honorable Memorial in Littleton, Colorado. As the Memorial and it's significance, are also important in our production, we felt it best to lend a hand.

If you head on over to our Instagram,

@astoryofcolumbine

For the next 30 days we will be raising money for the Foundation. 100% of proceeds will go directly towards the foundation, please consider donating to this incredible cause.

" ... Sometimes I come to this place to reflect, to remember, a way to have their lives be remembered for decades to come. Set in stone. Memorialized. A place where people can come to pay their respects, where students can have some peace, and where parents can feel closer..."~

#WeAreColumbine 🩶💙

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #rachel scott #cassie bernall

[astoryofcolumbine]

Our dates have changed, and so have we. "4/20/99" 2024 will be unlike anything you've ever seen.

"As a chapter in our lives begins to close, a new one arises. Think of the places you'll go, for your lives are just now truly beginning..."~

The 'Story' continues, re-opening for 10 performances in the Salt Lake City region.

💙🩵

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #eric harris #dylan klebold #utah #salt lake city #theatre #Rachel scott #cassie bernall #wearecolumbine

[astoryofcolumbine]

Prop Dissection #1: The Fly CD

The CD "Bombthreat: Before She Blows" by Fly is referenced frequently within our show and acts as a symbol of Susan and Eric's relationship.

Susan Dewitt briefly dated Eric Harris towards the end of his life and was seen with him three days before the massacre. In addition to writing a post-mortem letter to him, Eric also left the Fly CD for Susan in his 'will'. Though their time together was short-lived, the narrative of Susan Dewitt is one that is often overlooked. How the possibility of potential love may not have been enough to prevent this tragedy, and how our actions not only affect those we hurt but also how it resonates with those around us.

Track #13 "Before She Blows" is featured on our Pre-Show Playlist.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099astoryofcolumbine #42099 #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #Susan Dewitt

[astoryofcolumbine]

"Art can heal if art is allowed to exist. And if art is slowly wiped off the face of the planet, then what tools do we have to reach people to appeal to them and all of their senses?" - Madonna

"4/20/99: A Story of Columbine," a historical theatrical production written by a survivor of gun violence, aims to raise awareness and to provide a sense of hope. Reopening fall 2024.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #pennsylvania #philadelphia

[astoryofcolumbine]

Our first DVD review is in!

Anna from Germany writes,

"When I got the opportunity to purchase the DVD of the "4/20/99: A Story of Columbine"- Play by Autumn Cazier, I gladly took the chance and wouldn't regret it. More precisely: I loved it! The play is a well assembled compilation of scenes that get you immersed in the lives of Eric and Dylan, the two perpetrators, their thoughts and how their idea of commiting their attack on Columbine High School developed. The normality of their everyday lives, their friends, and especially the bewilderment of the people who only knew them as normal teenage boys really moved me. Above all, the scenes with Robyn and Susan, two girls who knew the boys quite a bit, touched me profoundly when they expressed their absolute horror about the crime. But also, the victims of that horrible tragedy get honored. In the end, when I heard the names of the 13 people murdered and saw their pictures in the background, it almost made me cry. I hope all people who died on April 20th, 1999, in that school rest in peace and that tragedies like this one will stop one day."

***

We're so glad you enjoyed the show and expressed your thoughts to us, Anna. Thank you for your generous support and for having faith in us. ❤️

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #pennsylvania #philadelphia

[astoryofcolumbine]

THE SMOKE IN THE ROOM week continues, as today marks 24 years since it opened at Columbine High School for two performances. The Smoke in The Room would be the final play that Rachel Scott would ever partake in.

Rachel dreamt of becoming an actress, and as we too share her love of theatre, we wanted to include her final work within ours somehow.

Here's a clip of our Nate Dykeman and Susan Dewitt discussing the play as well as a picture of Rachel Scott during rehearsals.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #pennsylvania #philadelphia #rachel scott

[astoryofcolumbine]

"Happy April Fools Day, motherfuckers! The one day of the year that I can do whatever I want without any consequences!"

Today, we're looking back on some of our most favorite Nate Dykeman moments. Nate was the most talked about character during our 2022 show, and Kenny Klugewicz performance will truly be a tough act to beat.

We vote that we should make April 1st 'National Nate Dykeman Day'. What do you think?

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #pennsylvania #philadelphia #nate Dykeman

[astoryofcolumbine]

"You have left an entire nation with unanswered questions, unspeakable pain, and hollow cries. That will follow the families of those you have hurt for the rest of their lives..."

- Susan Dewitt

Act 1 Scene 33

HELL IS JUST A WORD THE REALITY IS MUCH WORSE

Within recent events, we are reminded of why it is that we do what we do. The purpose of our show is to educate others on the ongoing epidemic of school shootings that emerged almost like a domino effect post- Columbine. We feel as though, that if perhaps we take a closer look at the events that lead up to Columbine, we may be able to find answers as to how to solve our new reality. We feel that no matter how much time has passed, Columbine will forever remain to be relevant. For it is present in our everyday lives...

'It's been 24 years, and not much has changed.'

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #pennsylvania #philadelphia

[astoryofcolumbine]

Happiest of Birthdays to Sue Klebold, mother of Dylan Klebold. Sue was a character in our 2018 run and was mentioned in our 2022 run.

A common theme in Sue's 2016 New York Times Bestselling novel "A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy", is the concept of loving someone not being enough to save them from the inner turmoil and horror that comes from within. This "love is not enough" theme is very present in our production, as our show is centered around those who knew the perpetrators. Whether it was crushes, friends, their teacher, or their fathers. We cover a wide range of differing points of view and perspectives to emphasize the heartbreak that Dylan and Eric bestowed onto the world.

Sue, a breast cancer and PTSD survivor, now advocates for suicide prevention awareness and is a mental health advocate. Thank you, Sue, for turning your grief into fighting for a better world. We are thinking of you today🎂❤️.

"One thing is certain: when we can do a better job of helping people before their lives are in crisis, the world will become safer for all of us." - Sue Klebold

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre #dylan klebold #eric harris #pennsylvania #philadelphia #sue Klebold

[astoryofcolumbine]

"4/20/99: A Story of Columbine" strives to be a safe space for those to express their gun violence grief through performance art. Where the love of theatre and passion for change come together. A place where we can try and make sense of everything 💙.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #performing arts #theatre

[astoryofcolumbine]

We have made over $100 so far in DVD sales! 100% of proceeds will go directly towards a new upcoming play that is advocating for suicide prevention awareness. "Dead Poets Society: The Play" has some of our same actors and works firsthand with anti-suicide organizations. Suicides account for 1/3rd of gun related deaths in the United States.

It's not too late to order your DVD! Our April rounds will open up next week, and you'll be guaranteed to receive yours by April 20th. If you donate $10 + shipping, to this link and message us with a good address that works for you, we'll get started on your order!

*The DVD includes a 2 disc set of our 2022 Philadelphia production, a scene list, and an insert of live photography*

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #dylan klebold #eric harris #performing arts #theatre

[astoryofcolumbine]

Today, our thoughts are with Sam Neill following his cancer diagnosis. Sam Neill was mentioned in our show (See clip), and "Event Horizon" (1997) is an integral part of our production. In addition to including Eric Harris and Susan Dewitt watching the film at Eric's home on April 17th, 1999, several scenes in our show are named after quotes from the film. We wish him and his loved ones the best during this difficult time.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #dylan klebold #eric harris #performing arts #theatre #event horizon #sam neill #young playwrights

[astoryofcolumbine]

Our History:

Our journey began in the fall of 2017 at Olympus High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Autumn Cazier was a senior in high school and was simultaneously taking an advanced Play Productions class as well as a sociology class. After being assigned to write a unique One Act play in theatre, Cazier felt inspired to write theirs on the Columbine tragedy after viewing "Bowling for Columbine" in their sociology class.

"4/20/99: A Story of Columbine" ended up scoring so well that it was among one of the student written plays selected to be performed at the school. It would go on to open for 2 performances in January 2018 in Olympus' blackbox theater. All of the actors were students ranging from ages 15-18, with Cazier being 17 at the time of its debut.

Originally, "4/20/99" primarily focused on the perspectives of Wayne and Kathy Harris as well as Sue and Thomas Klebold and the events of April 20th.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #dylan klebold #eric harris #performing arts #theatre #salt lake city #salt lake #utah #young playwrights

[astoryofcolumbine]

Our writer/director will be speaking at Richard R. Green High School of Teaching in Manhattan on March 30th!

"4/20/99: A Story of Columbine" is a not-for-profit Non-Union Theatrical Production covering the before, during, and aftermath events of the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy with a goal of raising awareness in an artistic way.

Written and directed by Autumn Cazier, a member of the Survivors Network at Everytown for Gun Safety, former Youth Lead Ambassador for March For Our Lives, and current board member at the Uvalde Foundation for Kids.

#columbine #columbine high school #42099 #42099astoryofcolumbine #dylan klebold #eric harris #performing arts #theatre #young playwrights #cassie bernall #Rachel Scott

[astoryofcolumbine]

*SNEAK PEEK SCENES*

Due to a high request of releasing our virtual performance recording, we have decided to upload snippets of several scenes here and there for your enjoyment. We have made sure to do our best to remain as spoiler-free as possible (outside the confines of historical accuracy), all the while still providing entertaining content on each slide.

*COPYRIGHT: All rights reserved 4/20/99: A Story of Columbine is protected via the United States Copyright Office (Library of Congress). Copyright infringement through unauthorized access is subject to a $5,000 fine. Unless previously affiliated (cast, crew, videographer, etc), or are close to someone previously affiliated with 4/20/99: A Story of Columbine, the use of re-upload is strictly prohibited. ©️