West Windsor, N.J.  –  Stories from 9/11 survivors and witnesses come to life in “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project,” to be performed by the Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Academic Theatre & Dance Company on Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. This special theatrical dance performance will be presented in MCCC’s Black Box Studio Theatre, CM 122, located next to Kelsey Theatre on the college’s West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. 

MCCC’s Dance and Theatre Coordinator, Jody Gazenbeek-Person, created the theatrical dance performance with assistance from co-directors LouJ Stalsworth and Daniel Spalluto along with students who conducted private interviews with those who experienced a first-hand account of the events that unfolded on September, 11, 2001 when so many lives were lost. The performance offers personal perspectives on the astonishing number of lives that were touched in so many different ways due to the ripple effect of the events surrounding the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

The event -- combining dance, acting and music -- will be performed two nights.

Gazenbeek-Person described how the project came to fruition last fall. “After walking the halls of the college and listening to different reports on the news, I realized that students had no palpable context for the events that occurred that day in 2001,” said Gazenbeek-Person.

Gazenbeek-Person explained that “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project” was designed to help students build various skills. He described it as a project where students worked inside and outside their majors providing a unique opportunity to learn and develop empathy by interviewing survivors and witnesses.

“The exercises used in creating the production aided the students in honing interview skills as well as documentary theatre approaches as a way of understanding how history is not just something in a textbook,” said Gazenbeek-Person.

“History has ramifications that are felt by those who experienced it, and there is great wisdom to be passed on from an older generation to younger generation,” he said. “I think that any audience member who finds their way to our performance may hear a story similar to theirs — maybe even heal some of the trauma they still might be experiencing.”

The show takes part in three scenes without intermission.

Scene One performers include: Avery Dixon of Cranbury; Brianna Harris-Gonzalez of Lawrence; Mackenzie Kohlmayer of Yardville; Isabel Pluchino  of Belle Mead; Vanessa Quijano of Robbinsville; Jabre Miner of Trenton; Anthony Piccinetti of Hamilton Township with Jennifer Wahlberg and Tylan Evans.
 
Scene Two performers include: Lisbeth Burgos of Lawrenceville; Kelly Orlando of Hopewell; Nina Dente  of Hamilton; Christian Whaley of Ewing with Jules Jackson and Antonio Franco. 
 
Scene Three performers include: Timika Young of Ewing; Angelina Hawke of Yardville; Kyle Bethea of Hamilton; Cole Chulamanis of Hamilton; and Hakim Hachicha of Lawrenceville.

The production team includes Director Scene One: Daniel Spalluto; Director Scene Two: LouJ Stalsworth; Director Scene Three: Jody P. Gazenbeek-Person; Set Design: Kate Pinner; Sound Design: Dan Skye; Lighting Design: Starr McCloud; Poster Design: Brandon Paris; Costumes: provided by MCCC students; Videographer: Justin Woo; Live Stream Support Services: Darleen Owens; and Publicity: Marcy Roberts.

Tickets for performances of the “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project” are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors and $15 for students and children, and can be purchased online at Kelsey.mccc.edu or by phone at 609-570-3333 or in-person at the Kelsey Theatre Box office located on MCCC’s West Windsor campus. Ticket purchases cover both a live-streamed and in-person event. 

Kelsey Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon for phone and in-person purchases, and one hour before show time for in-person purchases only.

More information about MCCC's Theatre/Dance program is available at https://www.mccc.edu/pdf/program-brochure_dancetheatre.pdf.

Kelsey Theatre and the Black Box Studio Theatre are located on the MCCC campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor Township. The theater is wheelchair accessible and free parking is available next to the building. Assisted listening devices are available upon request. For a complete listing of events, visit the Kelsey website at www.KelseyTheatre.org.

Please note: For everyone’s protection proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test no older than 48 hours is required at the door. For tickets please visit kelseytheatre.org, call the Box Office at 609-570-3333 or order directly at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35232.

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“At Kelsey Theatre, we have pledged to take active steps in creating true diversity, equity and inclusion in our productions through systemic policy change and individual accountability -- aiming to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, nationalities, creeds, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and abilities.” –The Kelsey Team

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Hakim Hachicha of Lawrenceville and Cole Chulamanis of Hamilton rehearsing for the upcoming “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project.” This theatrical, musical and dance ensemble is presented by the Academic Theatre & Dance Company at Mercer County Community College (MCCC). Performances are Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. at MCCC’s Black Box Studio Theatre, CM 122, located next to Kelsey Theatre on the college’s West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. Tickets may be purchased by visiting or calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333 or online at Kelsey.mccc.edu. (Photo credit: MCCC)

Angelina Hawke of Yardville, Timika Young of Ewing and Hakim Hachicha of Lawrenceville will appear in the December 10 and 11 performances of “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project” at the Studio Theatre at Mercer County Community College. The theatrical dance and musical performance was created by Jody Gazenbeek-Person with assistance from co-directors LouJ Stalsworth and Daniel Spalluto along with students who did private interviews with those who experienced a first-hand account of the events that unfolded on September, 11, 2001 when so many lives were lost. (Photo credit: MCCC)

Kyle Bethea of Hamilton and Angelina Hawke of Yardville display their creative prowess during rehearsals of “The 9/11 Memorial Performance Project” at the Studio Theatre at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. Tickets are available for December 10 and 11 live-streamed and in-person performances. For more information visit Kelsey.mccc.edu. (Photo credit: MCCC)