Riverside Teen Wins National Gun Violence Playwriting Competition

Payton Aurora Jones, 19, of Riverside, won a national competition for teen-written plays addressing gun violence.

Jones' play The Perfect Victim examines community care in the face of violence and systemic racism. It was selected as one of six winners from 127 submissions across 28 states in ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence’s fourth annual competition.

The Riverside playwright will receive a $500 stipend and see her play published through Concord Theatricals. She also receives membership in the Dramatists Guild.

The Perfect Victim will premiere Oct. 6 as part of a nationwide reading event. More than 40 venues across the country have committed to staging local readings.

The other winners are Abby Dougherty, 17, of Georgia, for Holding Space; Matias Finley, 17, of Wisconsin, for Oh Look, Another School Shooting!; Ian Hodges, 16, of Florida, for Nobody Cares About Death; Pace Rundlett, 16, of Mississippi, for We Didn’t Have to Meet Here; and Olivia Stanley, 19, of Texas, for Under Wraps.

Judges included former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and bestselling author Jason Reynolds.

The plays will debut with a flagship performance at a venue to be announced. Schools, theaters and community organizations can stage free readings of the plays.

ENOUGH! aims to have readings in every state. Created in 2019, the organization has received more than 700 plays by teen writers and reached more than 14,000 people.

ENOUGH! announced the winners Wednesday.

More information: enoughplays.com