Remembering, Connecting, and Healing: Adirondack Regional Theatre Presents The Guys

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the stories of that day, and the people whose lives were changed by it, still matter.

This September, Adirondack Regional Theatre invites the North Country community to come together, reflect, and remember with a special production of Anne Nelson’s powerful play The Guys.

The Guys will be performed September 18 and 19 at 7:00 p.m. and September 20 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Church, 18 Trinity Place in Plattsburgh.

A Story About People, Not Just History

While September 11 is an event that changed the course of American history, The Guys brings the focus back to something deeply personal: the people behind the headlines.

The play tells the story of Nick, a New York City fire captain who is struggling to find the words to honor the firefighters, friends, and colleagues he lost on September 11. He turns to Joan, a writer, for help composing their eulogies.

As Nick tells Joan about “the guys,” the audience begins to meet them, not simply as firefighters who died in a national tragedy, but as individual people with personalities, talents, quirks, friendships, dreams, and lives of their own.

Through these conversations, two people who likely would never have met under ordinary circumstances find an unexpected connection.

And in telling the stories of those who were lost, they begin to discover something about grief, friendship, resilience, and the healing power of human connection.

25 Years Later

For many people, September 11 is a memory. For others, it is history.

Some remember exactly where they were when they heard the news. Some grew up hearing stories from parents, grandparents, teachers, first responders, or friends. And for younger generations, September 11 may be something they have primarily encountered through textbooks and documentaries.

The Guys offers an opportunity for all of those generations to share the same space.

This production is not simply about looking backward. It is about considering how tragedy affects individuals and communities and how remembering, listening, and connecting with one another can help us move forward.

Adirondack Regional Theatre hopes this production will create space for reflection and conversation while honoring the people and communities whose lives were forever changed by September 11.

A Special Local Production

Adirondack Regional Theatre’s production features Lee Ann Thomas as Joan and former Plattsburgh Mayor Jim Calnon as Nick, reprising their roles in this moving two-person drama.

The play was written by Anne Nelson in just nine days, drawing from her experiences following the September 11 attacks. Nelson is an accomplished journalist, author, and educator whose work has explored international affairs, media, human rights, and the ways storytelling can give voice to people and communities.

Her play reminds us that sometimes the most powerful stories are not the ones that make the biggest headlines. They are the stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary connections we make during difficult times.

A Free Community Performance Supporting Mental Health

In recognition of the lasting impact September 11 had on first responders, families, and communities, Adirondack Regional Theatre is partnering with BHSN Mental Health Services to help spotlight the importance of mental health resources.

Admission is free. A suggested donation of $10 will be collected, with donations benefiting BHSN Mental Health Services and supporting mental health resources in our community.

Whether you remember September 11 firsthand or were born years afterward, The Guys offers an opportunity to come together and consider what it means to remember, to grieve, and to care for one another.

Come for the story. Stay for the conversation.

The Guys

By Anne Nelson

📅 Friday, September 18 — 7:00 p.m.

📅 Saturday, September 19 — 7:00 p.m.

📅 Sunday, September 20 — 2:00 p.m.

📍 Trinity Church

18 Trinity PlacePlattsburgh, NY

🎟️ FREE ADMISSIONSuggested donation: $10 to benefit BHSN Mental Health Services

Adirondack Regional Theatre invites everyone in our community—across generations and backgrounds—to join us as we pause to remember those we lost, those whose lives were changed, and the enduring impact of September 11.

**This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature