‘110 Stories': Starlight Theatre Co. remembers 9/11

WELLSVILLE — Friday is the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the Starlight Theatre Company is giving a free performance of the Pulitzer Prize winning play '110 Stories' by Sarah Tuft at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the David A. Howe Library's Nancy Howe Auditorium. Like so many, after the passenger jets hit the World Trade Center that day, Tuft, living in New York City, wanted to do something. When the dust smoke and cleared and she could go to Ground Zero, she carried containers of homemade chocolate chip cookies to the responders and volunteers who were recovering victims. She heard their stories. 'I'm very friendly and I talk to people and they talk to me,' she said. 'There I was with a plateful of cookies with people swarming around me telling me their stories. I feel very passionate that artists are important to society. We record human experience.' Ryan Keib, who is directing and performing in the play, explained, 'We wanted to do something meaningful to recognize the anniversary of 9/11. This is a documentary play. It's real people and not political. It is solely based on human reaction and how people came together. It's stories from the people who could tell the story.' 'Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11,' he said. Many of the 15 Starlight Theater Company cast were in elementary school on 9/11; three were not yet born. Some are old enough to vividly remember the day. The cast has been rehearsing since it closed 'Annie' in mid-July. Many, including Keib, have learned more details from the play about what happened that day and during the rescue and recovery. 'I've learned a lot about what happened,' Keib said. 'This play brings it to life, and that is what impacted me, the stories of ordinary people who were there because they just wanted to help. We've all connected to it in our own ways. Many members in the cast have first responders in their families.' The cast members are Jeff Apple, Bridget Bodnar, Kim Carter, Kylee Christensen, Isabella Corwine, Amanda Cronk, Genevieve Green, Molly Green, Jackie Hitchcock, Chaz LaGreca, Ryan Keib, Katelynn Roulo, Valerie Steadman, Emily Usselman and Bella Wenslow. 'People should know that while this is a serious drama there is an ebb and flow with some funny parts as well, like the human experience,' Keib said. '110 Stories' is a two-act play, about 145 minutes long including an intermission. Curtains will open at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday in the auditorium. It is a free performance, but donation jars will be out. The Starlight Theatre Company will be performing again in October.