NGU Theatre to Present ‘The Guys’ on Sept. 11
Posted on: September 2, 2026
Tigerville, SC—North Greenville University (NGU) Theatre will present a stage play of ‘The Guys’ on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Billingsley Theatre. First responders are invited to attend the show for free.
‘The Guys’ is based on a true story written by Anne Nelson surrounding the events following the Sept.11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings in New York.
The two-person play follows the story of an editor named Joan (played by Bess Park), who gets an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick (played by Josh Scott), a fire captain who lost most of his men in the attack. Nick is looking for a writer who can help with the eulogies that he must present at their memorial services.
During a long afternoon, Nick and Joan spend time recalling the fallen men through recounting their virtues and their flaws, and fashioning the stories into memorials of words. In the process, the two forge a friendship and bond over their shared love for the unconquerable spirit of the city.
As they make their way through the emotional landscape of grief, they draw on humor, tango, the appreciation of craft in all its forms – and the enduring bonds of common humanity.
Bess Park, a professor of theatre at NGU, said she has done this show three other times – at the fifth, tenth, and fifteen-year anniversaries of the horrific event.
“Every time I produce and act in this show, I am moved more and more deeply by the power of how God has seeded in each and every one of us incredible resiliency to face devastation and disaster,” said Park.
“No matter what we ‘do’ in our lives, as Dr. Fant pointed out so beautifully during Convocation, it is following our calling, God’s calling to us to become active prayer warriors and active ministers to each other in times of grief, hardship and loss. As well as during the lighter, more beautiful time,” she said.
Park said as theatre artists of faith, it is the calling of the theatre department to be storytellers and actively participate in sharing the human condition, with hopes of opening and touching the hearts and minds of their audiences.
She said her mission for this production is for audiences to remember the events of that tragic day as well as honor and respect first responders.
“This is the 25th anniversary of the event and I have a mission to not let anyone forget. This generation of students was, for the most part, not born at that time, but their parents remember,” Park said.
“My plea is that we all not only remember but also honor and respect those first responders who put their lives on the line for us every day. To remember and to honor the godliness in us all. To remember and to honor our love of Christ within ourselves and each other, even in the face of disaster and devastation.”
The event is free for everyone. Students can receive PALS credit for the event but must secure a ticket. First responders are welcome to come by the School of Theatre box office to get their tickets or secure them online.
