OUR PURPOSE
Strategic Goals
Proving Commercial Viability for an Open-Ended Run
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 12-performance run is designed to achieve specific strategic outcomes that will secure the future of 44 LIGHTS. Our primary goal is to prove the show's commercial viability and attract producers for a sustained, open-ended Off-Broadway run. This focused production schedule provides the ideal platform to solidify the artistic product and build unstoppable momentum. It allows us to capitalize on our established audience base from the solid November 2025 run, generating the press coverage and powerful word-of-mouth necessary for the show's long-term success.
Measurable Success Metrics
To ensure we meet our strategic objectives, we have established clear, measurable metrics for success. These benchmarks will provide concrete evidence of the production's impact and commercial potential to future partners and producers.
Metric | Description | Target |
|---|---|---|
Audience Impact | Post-show digital surveys will aim for a 90% rate of respondents affirming that the show was a powerful and meaningful tribute, confirming its emotional resonance. | 90% positive feedback |
Producer Interest | We will measure success by the number of established Off-Broadway producers who attend and express formal interest in the show's future. | 3+ prominent producers |
Press Coverage | Securing feature articles or reviews in influential outlets like The New York Times or Time Out New York will validate the show's artistic merit and cultural relevance. | 2+ major publications |
Attendance | Achieving this level of average attendance across the 12 performances will demonstrate strong and sustainable audience demand. | 80% or higher capacity |
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:
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Audience Validation: With a 60% attendance rate, we confirmed a genuine interest in the story and its musical framework.
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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.
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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 | Post-show digital surveys will aim for a 90% rate of respondents affirming that the show was a powerful and meaningful tribute, confirming its emotional resonance. | 90% positive feedback |
Producer Interest | We will measure success by the number of established Off-Broadway producers who attend and express formal interest in the show's future. | 3+ prominent producers |
Press Coverage | Securing feature articles or reviews in influential outlets like The New York Times or Time Out New York will validate the show's artistic merit and cultural relevance. | 2+ major publications |
Attendance | Achieving this level of average attendance across the 12 performances will demonstrate strong and sustainable audience demand. | 80% or higher capacity |
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). |
Rich Lamb | Music Director | A Berklee College graduate whose work has received Grammy recognition for projects with artists like Joan Osborne. Involved since the early "Music from Ground Zero" concerts, 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, landmark production of 44 LIGHTS for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we are seeking $350,000 in funding. This meticulously planned 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 $350,000 is specifically structured to finance a foundational 12-performance run in September 2026. This focused approach allows us to achieve our artistic and promotional goals with fiscal prudence, generating the momentum and industry validation needed to secure the show’s long-term future.
This funding will elevate the production from a showcase to a fully realized theatrical event by:
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Providing fair, professional-level compensation to secure and retain our top-tier creative team and a 12-person cast.
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Executing a robust marketing and press campaign is necessary to reach a wide audience, achieve our attendance goals, and attract commercial producers.
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Securing a suitable Off-Broadway theatre that can accommodate the show's technical needs and audience capacity.
The summary below outlines the primary categories of expenditure for the 12-performance run. Any earned revenue from ticket sales will be reinvested directly into the production, supporting the ongoing mission of Lights At Ground Zero, Inc. A detailed line-item breakdown is provided in Appendix A.
Budget Category | Allocation | Percentage | Key Expenses Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
Personnel | $232,000 | 66% | Fair compensation for our 12-person cast, 3 understudies, director, designers, stage managers, and a lean five-piece live band. |
Production & Venue | $68,000 | 20% | Theatre rental for rehearsal and performance, set construction, costumes, all lighting and sound equipment, and insurance. |
Promotion & Administration | $50,000 | 14% | Strategic marketing, press representation, ticketing services, and general organizational and administrative costs. |
Total Fundraising Goal | $350,000 | 100% |