Tickets are $25
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Kangagirl Productions presents
a dynamic reading of
THE GUYS by Anne Nelson
The Orlando Shakespeare Theatre’s Mandell Theatre
One performance only: September 11, 2026, 7:00pm
A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts
Orlando, FL (August, 2026) – Kangagirl Productions presents a dynamic reading of THE GUYS by award-winning journalist, playwright, author and screenwriter Anne Nelson. The play will be directed by award-winning director David Lee and will star favorite, acclaimed veteran actors Rebecca Fisher and Joe Swanberg.
Less than two weeks after the September 11th attacks, New Yorkers were still in shock. One of them, an editor named “Joan”, receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of “Nick”, a New York Fired Department captain who lost most of his firemen in the attack. He was looking for a writer to help him with the eulogies he had a duty to present at their memorial services. Nick and Joan spend a long afternoon together, recalling the fallen men through recounting their virtues and foibles and firehouse stories, and crafting the stories into memorial speeches. In the process, Nick and Joan discover the possibilities of friendship in each other and their shared love of the unconquerable spirit of the city. As they make their way through the landscape of grief, they draw on humor, tango, and the appreciation of the enduring bonds of common humanity.
THE GUYS is based on a true story.
Indeed, in the days following the tragedy, Ms. Nelson worked with the real captain to help him with the poignant task. Soon after, during a dinner party, she met the Artistic Director of the Flea Theatre in New York, Jim Simpson. Throughout the course of the evening, they discussed the effects that the tragedy had on New York life and theatre, in particular. She spoke about her experience helping the grieving fire captain. Simpson had been looking for something to present that addressed the tragedy and could help bring the community together. He commissioned her on the spot to write a play about her experience.
While she was an accomplished book author, veteran war correspondent and director of the International Programs for the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, Ms. Nelson had never written a play. Inspired and wanting to create healing theatre, she wrote it in nine days, and it was presented off-off-Broadway at the Flea Theatre starring Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murrary within 12 weeks of the tragedy.
Since that time, the play has been performed in all 50 states and in over 15 countries and counting, often with a rotating cast of high-profile actors, including: Helen Hunt, Anthony LaPaglia, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Swoosie Kurtz, Jasmine Guy and William H. Macy. It was adapted as a feature film in 2003 starring Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia.
The 2002 New York Times review noted, “Perhaps the keenest message to emerge from ”The Guys,” however, is the assertion that writers — and actors — have a serious role to play in a grieving society.”
The play was first presented in Orlando on September 11, 2002, on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, with David Lee directing, Margaret Nolan producing and featuring Rebecca Fisher at the former Temenos Theatre in downtown Orlando. “It is my honor to revisit and assist in the presentation THE GUYS for the second time in Orlando and 25 years after the horrific events of 9/11. I was living in NYC on that date in 2011 and like so many people in the world, was forever changed,” Lee says.
The production on Friday, September 11th, 2026 in The Mandell Theatre at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the tragedy and the play. It will be presented in the manner it was first produced- as an intimate and dynamic reading- to allow the words and characters to shine.
It is our honor to present the play as a benefit for the Singhaus Scholarship for Performing Arts in support of the mission of providing financial assistance to elevate young talent in their pursuit of a career in theatre: performance, technical, creative, and costume design.
** THE GUYS was developed and first produced by The Flea Theater in December 2001 in New York City. Jim Simpson, Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director.
BIOS
Anne Nelson (Playwright)
Anne Nelson is an award-winning author and playwright who has written extensively about human rights and the defiance of totalitarian regimes. Her most recent work is “Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right.” Her previous book, “Suzanne’s Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris”, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, was published in eight countries. “Red Orchestra: The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who Resisted Hitler” (2009) was named Editor’s Choice by the New York Times Book Review. She is also the author of “Murder Under Two Flags: The US, Puerto Rico, and the Cerro Maravilla Cover-up.”
Her play “The Guys,” which premiered in 2001 with Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murray, has been produced in all 50 states and 15 countries. Her screenplay of “The Guys” was produced as a feature film starring Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia. Her play “Savages,” an exploration of military occupation, was described by the New Yorker as a work of “lacerating beauty.”
Nelson’s writing has been published in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Harper’s, and she has appeared on CBS “Sunday Morning” and The PBS “Newshour,” as well as the BBC, CBC and NPR. She has received the Livingston Award for International Journalism, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Bellagio Fellowship. Nelson is a graduate of Yale University and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a research fellow at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Nelson lectures frequently on human rights, authoritarian regimes, and the role of the media. She is represented by Ethan Bassoff of the Ross Yoon Agency, and Authors Unbound speaker agency.
David Lee (Director)
David Lee is a theatre director, writer, actor and educator. He has worked in NYC, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco, and Edinburgh, Scotland. He has taught acting and directing and directed productions for Marymount Manhattan College, Fordham University at Lincoln Center, and UCF. For the Orlando International Fringe Festival, he has received The Lifetime Achievement Award and The Critic’s Choice Awards for Best Male Performance, Best Solo Show and Best Director for “O-TOWN: Voices from Orlando”, his collection of monologues based on interviews from survivors and responders of The Pulse Nightclub Tragedy. He is the creator and lead singer for the Wild West Ghost Band, BULLOCK & THE BANDITS and is a graduate of The University of Miami and The Yale School of Drama.
Joe Swanberg (“Nick”)
Joe has lived in Orlando with his wife Rebecca for 36 years. He has been involved in the theater throughout that time and worked for many years as an actor at Universal Studios. some of his favorite shows include A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE LION QUEEN, THE DREAM EXPRESS, CHESS, and most recently SPRING AWAKENING. He has worked as a funeral director for the past 10 years. Joe was fortunate to be a friend to the Singhaus family and is proud to say that he was able to help with their final wishes. THE GUYS is an important play and Joe hopes to deliver the text with the honesty and weight it deserves. The members of the NYFD, along with all those who sacrificed their lives and the haunting events and images of that day will always be remembered.
Rebecca Fisher (“Joan”)
Some of the first people Rebecca met when she moved to Orlando with her husband, Joe, were the Singhaus family. Sam Singhaus had just opened The Big Bang dance club downtown on Orange Avenue. He graciously opened up his club to the startup theatre company, The Per4mAnts, founded by David Lee. Rebecca and Joe were among the original Per4mAnts, and the Singhaus family, became part of their chosen family. In 2005, Rebecca joined the cast of MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL, and performed the role of Soap Star on and off for the next 19 years all over the United States, parts of Canada, and in Singapore. Some of Rebecca’s recent Theatre credits include Robyn in THE ROOMMATE with Significant Productions, Bella in THE SOUND INSIDE with Florida Theatrical, and Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD with New Generation Theatrical. Currently, Rebecca can be seen playing with Vikings at Epic Universe, or spending time with her Wandkeeper friend at Ollivander’s in Universal Orlando, and Islands Of Adventure. Rebecca and Joe have one daughter, performer and costume designer, Kyla Swanberg. Rebecca is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. May we all remember those who bravely sacrificed their lives to help others on September 11th, 2001 in NYC.
Kangagirl Productions (Margaret Nolan)
Now in its 20th year, Kangagirl Productions is a collaborative boutique production collective that has produced over 70 theatrical productions and events, often with a fundraising component. Previous productions include BULLOCK AND THE BANDITS: DEVIL IN DEADWOOD for 2026 Orlando Fringe Festival, BULLOCK AND THE BANDITS VOL III COWBOYS AND ALIENS for the 2025 Orlando Fringe Festival, BULLOCK AND THE BANDITS RIDE AGAIN for the 2022 Orlando Fringe Festival and BULLOCK AND THE BANDITS for 2021 Orlando Fringe. Collaborated and co-produced ‘VerSUS, with PlayTheMoment Theatre; produced MIDDLETOWN for Orlando Fringe ArtSpace’s first full run production in 2023. Other Fringe productions include: TITLE AND DEED, SEX DRUGS ROCK & ROLL, Orlando’s first production of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, She curated playwrights and produced ‘THE AFTER ORLANDO PROJECT’- A NATIONAL THEATRE ACTION of original plays in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting, THE ADVENTURES OF ANITA BRYANT for FringeNYC, and the award-winning 2006 Fringe hit, ORLANDO FRINGE’S LILY & LILA’S LOVELY LESBIAN HOUR. She was a founding member of Theatre Downtown and the Central Florida Theatre Alliance (precursor to the Downtown Arts District) and has produced, directed for, and creatively collaborated with Theatre Downtown, the Orlando Shakespeare Festival’s PlayFest, Orlando International Fringe Festival, Playwright’s Roundtable, People’s Theatre, Queer Quills, The Footlight Theatre, and the Women’s Playwright Initiative.
The Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts
The Scholarship provides financial assistance to elevate young talent in their pursuit of a career in theatre: performance, technical, creative, costume design. This scholarship is designed to support members of the Central Florida LGBTQ+ community and their allies and considers candidates whose path includes formal education as well as those who are not receiving a formal education and have a specific financial need related to their craft such as aid in purchasing a new sewing machine, vocal coaching, dance training, etc.
LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc. is a 501C registered charity. In the State of Florida, the registration number for solicitations is CH11373. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-435-7352 within the State of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State of Florida. For a copy of any previous years 990 or audited financial documents, please visit public Guidestar portrait: Central Florida Foundation (nonprofit-search.org).
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