"Paduca, Jonesboro, Springfield." The sites of school shootings echoed in the mind of Josh, the main character in Bang Bang You're Dead.  In a jail cell, he is haunted by the memories of the five students he killed during a shooting spree at his high school.  They ask him why he did it, a troubling and difficult question to answer for this fourteen year old.  These memories force him to relive the scenes before the shooting,  his fights with his parents, the first time he went hunting, a threat on the blackboard.  He hears what all the victims missed by dying so young, and he finally realizes that all of his actions changed things forever.
     The play was written by William Mastrosimone, a Seattle playwright, in response to the rash of school shootings across the country.  He drew inspiration from the shooting at Thurston High School and threats at his son's school.  Bang Bang You're Dead has been performed by  students all over, spreading his message.   Recently, the students of  Thurston High School  performed the play, bringing it to this year's Fall Leadership Conference in Seaside, Oregon.  Reedsport's ASB watched the play, and was so moved, they decided it would be important for the students and staff of Reedsport High school to see. 
    Reedsport High School alumnus Jesse Young, now a senior at Willamette University, agreed to direct.  One thing that made Jesse Young want to direct the play was everyone's enthusiasm for it.  "[The students] seemed like they wanted to do it," he said.   After acting in many plays as a high schooler, he was happy to be bringing theater back to Reedsport. 
   Auditions were held during the holiday break, and rehearsals began immediately.  It was difficult to put on an entire play in such a short time, many of the actors said.  The cast included Nikki Williams, Lisa Osekowsky, Alisha Lacewell, Wes Riley, Tyler Hill, Cole Browning, Jamie Fischer, Heather Leach, Abby Harris, and Hayley Holmgreen. Only two and a half weeks elapsed between auditions and the performance.  The cast practiced diligently every day after school for three hours.  Because of some changes in the cast, Jesse Young also acted the part of Josh.  The time restraints also turned the play into a reading.
    Cast member Heather Leach thought the play had a good message.  She and the rest of the cast shared their thoughts with the audience during talk back sessions. When the play was over, many took part in the discussions, especially during the community performance.   Those who participated in the play were very vocal in their opinions and most  thought that the play had really made an impact  on their lives.
     Director Jesse Young also had an opinion. He said, "To dismiss the character that kills his fellow classmates and parents as crazy is a mistake.  The playwright tries to tell us that it takes an entire community to raise a child.  If Josh is crazy, then so is the community that brought him up."
    Bang Bang You're Dead was presented for students and the community at Reedsport High School on January 15.  It was sponsored by Reedsport High School ASB, Reedsport Community Learning Center, Reedsport Task Force on Alcohol, Other Drugs and Youth, and Reedsport School District.