OUR PURPOSE

We created a non-profit 501(c)(3) “Lights At Ground Zero, Inc.” for all IRS TAX DEDUCTIBLE donations for this production. We are officially and legally recognized by New York State Charities Bureau (NY AG) and the US Federal Government. EIN available upon request.

Beyond its commemorative purpose, this 4 night concert series is designed to find ways to educate the public about 9/11 around the world and to help ensure that younger generations never forget what we lived through. Perhaps most importantly to remind us how music can heal in times of collective pain.

THIS SERIES OF CONCERTS WILL SHOWCASE THE MUSIC written by Tim Tuttle in the aftermath of the tragedy. This will not be the full play. WE WILL AIR IT LIVE ON FRIDAY 9/11 via YouTube for everyone around the country to watch.

A 9 member band with 8 cast members singing.

Metric	Description	Target
Audience Impact	We hope that the show is a powerful and meaningful musical tribute, confirming its emotional resonance. We hope that this music brings people together and can help in a global healing effort- for 9/11 and every other tragedy in the world.	Positive feedback
Producer Interest	Most important: honoring our friends and neighbors who didn't come that tragic Tuesday morning. We hope a few established Off-Broadway producers will attend and express formal interest in the show's future. We want to keep 9/11 in the minds of the world forever. It's been our goal since the first song was written September 11th, 2001.	Honor the victims, remember the past, heal the future.
Press Coverage	Securing feature articles or reviews in influential outlets like The New York Times or Time Out New York certianly validates the show's artistic merit and cultural relevance. But that's not the most important thing. Our music comes from an incredibly deep place. Our hearts and souls broke as one on 9/11. We have spent 25 years trying to heal through art, music, creatiivity, writing, poetry,.	We'd love a review of our music but it's not important.
Attendance	We'd love to fill the 99 seat theatre each night. We will also film the concert live on 9/11 and stream it on YouTube for the world to share free of charge.	We have 4 nights on Theatre Row "Stage 5" @ 99 seats

Previous Successes: Our Equity Showcase Productions
44 LIGHTS has demonstrated significant artistic growth and audience resonance through two successful developmental productions. Each showcase served a specific purpose, proving the show's powerful impact while building the momentum that brings us to this critical next step.

The Foundational Showcase: May 2024
Our initial showcase in New York City in May 2024 served as our proof-of-concept. Presented as a 10-performance run in a 70-seat theater, the primary goal was to test the core material with a live audience and attract a professional director. We achieved both objectives:

Audience Validation: With a 60% attendance rate, we confirmed a genuine interest in the story and its musical framework.
Creative Development: Audience feedback from this run was invaluable. It highlighted that the show's second act needed greater emotional impact, leading directly to the script rewrites and song changes that proved so powerful in our subsequent production.
Securing Key Talent: The showcase captured the attention of Abigail Zealey Bess, an award-winning director affiliated with NYU and Columbia. Her decision to helm our next production was a direct result of seeing the show’s raw potential in this initial run.

The Breakthrough: Our November 2025 Equity Approved Showcase

Building on the lessons from our first run, our recent Equity Approved Showcase at the Chain Theatre in November 2025 was a resounding success. This professionally staged production confirmed that 44 LIGHTS is ready for a larger stage, generating powerful momentum and demonstrating the show's profound connection with audiences.

The key outcomes from our recently concluded November 2025 showcase are summarized below:

Metric	Description	Target
Audience Impact	We hope that the show is a powerful and meaningful musical tribute, confirming its emotional resonance. We hope that this music brings people together and can help in a global healing effort- for 9/11 and every other tragedy in the world.	Positive feedback
Producer Interest	Most important: honoring our friends and neighbors who didn't come that tragic Tuesday morning. We hope a few established Off-Broadway producers will attend and express formal interest in the show's future. We want to keep 9/11 in the minds of the world forever. It's been our goal since the first song was written September 11th, 2001.	Honor the victims, remember the past, heal the future.
Press Coverage	Securing feature articles or reviews in influential outlets like The New York Times or Time Out New York certianly validates the show's artistic merit and cultural relevance. But that's not the most important thing. Our music comes from an incredibly deep place. Our hearts and souls broke as one on 9/11. We have spent 25 years trying to heal through art, music, creatiivity, writing, poetry,.	We'd love a review of our music but it's not important.
Attendance	We'd love to fill the 99 seat theatre each night. We will also film the concert live on 9/11 and stream it on YouTube for the world to share free of charge.	We have 4 nights on Theatre Row "Stage 5" @ 99 seats

The most powerful validation came directly from those who experienced the show. It created a space for catharsis and connection, not just for those who lived through 9/11, but for a younger generation seeking to understand it.

"I've been waiting for over twenty years for this musical to happen."
— Audience Member, November 2025

"I've avoided anything to do with 9/11 for so long. Your show was the first thing that allowed me to finally cry and feel a sense of peace."
— A 9/11 Survivor, November 2025

Perhaps the most profound feedback came from a young man who told me, "After seeing 44 LIGHTS, I will never feel the same way about 9/11. It isn't just about September 11th, it's about universal healing around the world."

From a proof-of-concept to a sold-out, professionally staged production, these showcases have proven that 44 LIGHTS resonates deeply with audiences and is poised for the crucial next step: a landmark 25th-anniversary run.

The Creative Vision and Team

Our creative vision for 44 LIGHTS is to guide the audience on a journey from darkness to light. The production opens with the stark, fragmented memories of 9/11 and gradually builds toward a powerful, uplifting finale of community and hope. We achieve this through an immersive, cinematic style on stage, using fluid scene transitions and a rich soundscape to move through time and memory, capturing the feeling of looking back over two decades of healing. The staging is designed to feel raw and authentic, as if the audience is in a downtown club watching a band process its grief through song. The score, rooted in classic folk-rock with influences of Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac and delivered by a lean five-piece band, provides the emotional heartbeat of this journey.

The production is led by a team of seasoned professionals and long-term collaborators who share a deep commitment to this story. Our proven chemistry and understanding of the material were solidified during our highly successful November 2025 showcase in New York City, making this team essential for realizing the full potential of the expanded 25th-anniversary production.

Creative Team Member	Role	Contribution and Acclaimed Work
Michael Keck	Sound Designer	A highly accomplished designer with credits at premier American theatres, including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Arena Stage, and the Guthrie Theater. Michael ensures a perfect balance between the live band and the clarity of the actors' vocals, which is critical for the story's impact.
Conor Mulligan	Lighting Designer	Conor's work is central to creating the show's "cinematic" feel, guiding the journey from darkness to light. His credits include notable productions like "Million Dollar Quartet" (Hangar Theatre) and "The Giant Hoax" (Theatre Row).
Ted Stafford	Music Director	A Oberlin Music and BAM graduate who has been involved with both "44 Lights" and "Music from Ground Zero" concerts and theatre showcases. He is essential for maintaining the raw, live energy of the folk-rock score.
Abigail Zealey Bess	Director	An award-winning director with extensive experience developing new, emotionally intense work. Her expertise in shaping narrative and her ties to institutions like NYU and Columbia bring a high level of professionalism and theatrical craft to the production.
Tim Tuttle	Writer/Creator	As the playwright and composer, I provide the authentic vision and personal story that are the foundation of 44 LIGHTS. My 24-year journey from Ground Zero to the stage ensures the story's emotional integrity.

This core team, having successfully collaborated on the sold-out November 2025 showcase, possesses an invaluable creative shorthand. Their collective expertise ensures that the artistic, musical, and technical elements will merge seamlessly to create a production that is both a powerful act of remembrance and a deeply moving theatrical experience.

Funding Request for a Landmark Production

Proposed Budget Overview

To mount a professional, lproduction of 44 LIGHTS for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we are seeking $125,000 in funding. This budget is based on direct costs from our previous showcase productions and is benchmarked against current industry standards for a professional Off-Broadway run of this scale.

Our funding request of $125,000 is specifically structured to finance a foundational 4 performance run on Theatre Row in September 2026. This allows us to achieve our artistic and promotional goals

Budget Category	Allocation	Percentage	Key Expenses Covered
Set Design
Marketin/Advertising
Audio and Sound
8 Cast Members/ Singers
Film and Tape
9 Muscians
Stage Manager
Assistant SM
Director
Theatre Rental
Assistant Director
Screen Projection

OUR PURPOSE

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