Theater Piece On Newtown Shootings To Be Presented In DC

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group that advocates gun control measures will present a reading of a documentary theater piece about Newtown, Connecticut, at Washington's Arena Stage.

Arena's artistic director, Molly Smith, will direct the benefit reading of "26 Pebbles" on Monday night. The story is based on interviews with Newtown residents about the 2012 tragedy where 20 students and six adults were killed in an elementary school.

The cast will feature Washington actors, including Edward Gero, who played Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in "The Originalist" and Nicholas Rodriguez from Arena's production of "Oklahoma."

Organizers say proceeds from the reading will benefit the groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Newtown Action Alliance.

In 2013, Smith and others led a march along the National Mall calling for gun control measures after the Newtown massacre.