ABOUT THE ENOUGH! NATIONWIDE READING
ENOUGH! invites YOU to attend staged readings of this year’s plays in your community.
On October 6, 2025, six of the plays submitted through our nationwide call in Spring 2025 will be presented in an evening of readings staged simultaneously by theaters, schools, and community groups across the country.
Nearly 3,000 artists in more than 150 communities have participated across our three previous Nationwide Readings. Many have used ENOUGH! to forge meaningful community partnerships and create space for the youth of their area to be seen and heard.
Our teens are looking for answers on how to avoid becoming another statistic and saying, "Enough is enough."
Will you join them?
Interested in joining our 2025 Nationwide Reading?
Sign-up below and we'll get in touch with you!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Nationwide Reading?
Monday, October 6, 2025.
What is the ENOUGH! Nationwide Reading?
On the same evening across the country, theaters, schools, and community groups stage readings of a script comprised of six (6) new 10-minute plays by teen writers confronting gun violence, selected by a committee of nationally-renowned playwrights out of plays received in our Call for Submissions.
How much rehearsal is needed?
Past Nationwide Reading hosts have said the number of rehearsal hours ranged anywhere from 2 hours to 24 hours or more. The average rehearsal time is around 10 hours, spread out over a few days or weeks.
What resources are provided?
Once we receive a signed licensing agreement from your organization (available Spring 2025), you will have access to a partner area of the website that contains PDFs of all the scripts, toolkits and resources to help you organize your readings, social media toolkit, press release templates, and digital poster/flyer files.
Can we charge admission?
Yes! And, if you can, we strongly encourage you to raise money for a local gun violence prevention organization. If you want suggestions, don't hesitate to contact us!
What is a staged reading, exactly?
Great question! They can be straightforward - actors at music stands - and staging is minimal to nonexistent. Technical requirements are usually pretty low, sometimes as simple as "lights up, lights down." If you want further tips on staged readings, go HERE.
Can I preview the plays?
Yes! Previews will be available once the plays are selected sometime in June.
What fees are associated with the reading?
It will cost you nothing to participate, and we'll give you the scripts and permission to perform the plays for the Nationwide Reading for FREE. The answer in terms of production cost depends on many factors, like whether or not you are paying your actors, etc. High schools, community organizations, and smaller theaters spent $0-$600 on their reading. Mid-range to larger theaters spent between $1,000-$5,000.
What does casting look like?
The casting breakdown will be available as soon as the 2025 plays are selected plays, including a plan for extreme doubling. None of the plays will have more than six characters. Previous reading producers cast actors in multiple plays. We strongly encourage you to cast the younger characters age-appropriately.
Does the reading start at a specific time?
Nope! We’ll have readings all over the country starting at different times on November 6.
How long is the reading?
Plan for your reading to last 80-90 minutes. It will contain six (6) 10-minute plays and a brief prologue and epilogue bookending the event. In the past, some of our plays have run over 10-min, and some have run under. For a post-show discussion or other community engagement component (which we hope you do), give yourself anywhere from 30-60 minutes, or more.
We have rules about mature language. Can you accommodate us?
Obviously, our preference would be for you to do the play as written. If, however, you must adjust and/or omit language due to the venue you’ll be performing, please do so at your discretion. We will not be providing substitutions for language that might be deemed offensive.