Notes from the Director:
110 Stories by Sarah Tuft is a play that features everyday people thrown into extraordinary circumstances, some by chance and others by choice.
I moved to New York City five months after 9/11. I was struck by the kindness, humor, and energy of the city during that time. This play captures that moment in our history through the true stories of people who were there. While it features the stories of real people, it is important to note that this is not a documentary--this is Theatre. You will see character’s sharing their memories filtered through their personalities and experiences. My experience of the time after 9/ll was one of hope and unity. For a brief moment in time we were all Americans.
I chose this play for a variety of reasons; the first being our students. Last year, our shows featured smaller casts, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This show had the ability to be performed by a cast of as many as 26, all with speaking roles. The playwright also gives permission to cast the show based on the actors who audition, not on race and gender. The play features a series of monologues. This structure lent itself to be performed safely according to current guidelines and allowed the show to be easily adapted to a remote performance if necessitated by the current pandemic. This year also marks the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. An unprecedented time in American history meets an unprecedented time in world history.
When I selected this show last Spring, I was posed with the following question: ``How is a show about 9/ll relevant to our students who weren’t even born?” My mind jumped to reading articles at the time that cited 9/11 responsible for the death of ironic humor. Media outlets opined that the very fabric of American life would be changed forever as a result of our great National Tragedy. How did 9/11 go from being charged with, forever changing the American way of life and altering the face of comedy, to a play about 9/11 being questioned about its relevance, a mere twenty years later? I couldn’t help but find humor in the situation. I encourage you to give yourself permission to laugh with the characters on stage as they discover the humor in their situations. This show is a piece of entertainment--not a memorial service. Whether you laugh or cry, I hope you see people and personalities on stage that you can relate to. The production design reflects the shared humanity of the characters on stage. I want the focus of the show to be on the characters, their stories, and the show’s underlying theme: that despite our differences we are all the same. I can’t think of a more relevant message for this, or any time.
Thank you and enjoy the show.
Sincerely,
Greg Jernigan,
Director
Special thanks to:
Life is Art Studios, Theatre Raleigh, Chris Bernier, Cassandra Dublin, Dr. Jackie Jordan, Cecelia Joyce, Heather Smith, Lisa Kruger, Michele Weathers, Lisa Goldstein, Jennifer Grigas, Chris Fellowes, Katie Calvillo, Enloe Arts Guild, Enloe High School Administration
