Many Americans have stories recalling where they were on Sept. 11, 2001, the day planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, a Pennsylvania field and the Pentagon, killing more than 3,000.
Millions today share a part of history that changed our nation forever.
On March 26, 27, 28 and 29 Goodrich High School will present Sarah Tuft’s play ?110 Stories.? Through the words of those who experienced 9/11 directly including firefighters, police, ironworkers, chaplains, K9 handlers, nurses, photojournalists and the homeless, the events are expressed by actors in first-person testimonial accounts of the attack on the World Trade Center.
‘One of the reasons I selected this play was that I’ve been asking my students, ‘What do you remember from that day?? They would say, ‘Well I kind of remember,? but for the most part, many of the students were just too young,? said Steve Mitchell, Goodrich High School, theater director. ‘They had no firsthand impression of the events of that day.?
Remembering the events of 9/11 are shared through the actual personal stories which news accounts may not have covered, added Mitchell.
‘Another reason I really liked the play was the characters were not just the First Responders,? he said. ‘This play is an insight into everyday life of people? a cross section of those close to the towers. Actually, the author, Sarah Tuft, really interviewed these people within a few days of the plane crashes. These are real stories, real people. There are some shocking accounts voiced by the actors? we want the words to speak for themselves. We wanted to remember this day and the impact on the nation.?
Mitchell said students watched videos and news clips of the 9/11 events prior to learning the parts for the play.
‘I have to remind students this event its real,? he said. ‘We studied the reaction of actual people on the streets when the towers fell. Some interviews with people were a mile away from the towers, some were of people in the building at the time the planes hit, some were watching from apartments several miles away. We researched how people reacted through several documentaries. Some people had strong emotional reactions’some expressed a deep shock impact of the event.?
The cast of students is unique, added Mitchell.
‘I truly have a variety of students in the production,? he said. ‘The cast of 26 students that read the accounts come from differing backgrounds.?
?110 Stories,? at 7 p.m., March 26-28 and 2:30 p.m., March 29 at the Goodrich High School Center for the Performing Arts, 8029 S. Gale Road, Goodrich. Call 810-591-2220.