The Guys
The Guys is a theatrical work by Anne Nelson that explores the consequences following the collapse of the World Trade Center. A cinematic version released in 2002 featured performances by Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia.
History
The narrative focuses on Joan, an editor, who aids Nick, a captain in the New York Fire Department, in composing eulogies for eight firefighters who lost their lives under his leadership from a team of twelve. Its initial presentation took place off-Broadway at The Flea Theater on December 4, 2001, under the direction of Jim Simpson, with Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murray in the lead roles.
Following its premiere, The Guys has been staged throughout 48 states within the United States as well as internationally in countries such as the Czech Republic, Argentina, Japan, Italy, and Poland. A notable production featured Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon at the Edinburgh Festival. In 2006, The Flea Theater organized a special revival marking the fifth anniversary of 9/11. Throughout various productions, actors including Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver have portrayed key characters; Weaver also appeared in the 2002 film adaptation and received a Golden Satellite Award nomination for her role. The script was made available through Dramatists Play Service and Random House in 2002. An audio rendition recorded by Bill Irwin and Swoosie Kurtz earned an Audie Award recognizing it as the best recorded play.
In the film adaptation directed by Jim Simpson, Weaver and LaPaglia returned to their original roles. This movie debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2002, and was subsequently released in theaters in April 2003. The production was completed with a budget of $500,000 in New York.