Silver Spring Stage presents the area community theater premiere of columbinus by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, directed by Bridget Muehlberger, an expose of the anxiety, yearning, humor and pain of teenagers. The Stage's production of columbinus coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings and will perform weekends April 3 to April 26.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices range from $13 to $18. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday matinees on April 19 and 26 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

Ten years ago, Americans were stunned, angered and grieved by the horror of two teen students killing their fellow students and a teacher before killing themselves at a seemingly sedate and typical suburban high school near Denver, Colorado. Though there had been other school massacres, Columbine shook the conscience of the country and forced a new examination of the accepted ?kids will be kids? school environments. The nation instituted new anti-bullying policies and programs and strengthened zero tolerance practices f or possession of weapons in schools. First performed at Round House Theater in 2005, columbinus first examines high school students with honesty, candor and sympathy. The peer pressures, cultural segregations and personal cruelties are explored with frankness and even humor. columbinus goes further to tell the story of Columbine High School without blame or psychology. It vividly captures the language of young people, translating their feelings of isolation, helplessness and aspiration. The word columbinus means dove-like in Latin, evoking a hope that peace can be a guide for young people within themselves and in their community. Yet, the powerful message of columbinus goes further as it impresses on adults that in our human condition, we must model a peace-like principle to comfort and inspire young people. Audiences will have a unique and memorable experience.

The cast is an ensemble led by Ryan Manning and Matt Reckeweg with Amy Baughman, Ben Davis, Josh Greenwald, Tim Phelps, Lenora Spahn, and Erin Stansfield. The first act, set in a fictitious high school anywhere in America, melds fact and fiction before getting into the specifics of the 1999 Colorado tragedy. The audience is guided into the complex world of adolescence as a group of stereotypes from any American high school slowly reveal their inner character. As they humanize and discover their commonality, the play moves from fiction to fact as two outsiders become Eric Harris (Manning) and Dylan Klebold (Reckeweg), the two gunmen who killed 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School. Using dialogue taken directly from Harris and Klebold's journal entries, web postings, videos, and other police archives, along with interviews with Columbine teachers, students and their families, the second act focuses on the events leading up to, including, and following the Columbine shootings, prompting examination of this horrendous American tragedy and the cultural climate that created it.

The production team includes Andrea Greenleaf (Assistant Director), Craig Mummey (Stage Manager), Andy Greenleaf (Set Design/Special Effects), Chris Curtis (Light Design), Kevin Garrett (Sound Design), Rachael Feola (Costume Design), and Sonya Okin (Props Design).

The Stage's 2008-2009 "Find Yourself" season continues with the comic romp As Bees in Honey Drown (May 15-Jun. 7), and classic Agatha Christie suspense The Mousetrap (Jun. 26-July 26).

Silver Spring Stage is grateful for support from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.