Performing 11-13 September 2026 | Polanentheater, Amsterdam
By Midge Guerrera. Directed by George Hansel
Our Way Productions proudly presents Midge Guererra’s Email: 9/12, coinciding with 25 years since the attack on the World Trade Center’s “Twin Towers” in New York City.
Set in the early hours of 12 September, the english-language play begins with Margaret, unable to sleep, sitting at her computer and sending a simple email to the people she loves. As replies arrive from friends, family members, first responders and strangers across America and beyond, a remarkable portrait emerges of humanity.
Rather than revisiting the politics or the tragedy itself, E-mail: 9/12 explores the ordinary moments that followed: parents searching for children, first responders returning home, friends checking in across continents and strangers finding comfort in sharing. Rich with humour, honesty and heart, the play asks what happens when the world changes overnight, and what remains when the headlines fade.
Twenty-five years on, do you remember where you were that day? (TELL US HERE), or were you born into the world it shaped? Come take your seat for this moving english-language theatrical production that will remind you that even when the world seems lost - hope endures.
Show times
Friday September 11 @ 20:00 | Polanentheater
Saturday September 12 @ 14:00 | Polanentheater
Saturday September 12 @ 20:00 | Polanentheater
Sunday September 13 @ 13:00 | Polanentheater
Sunday September 13 @ 17:00 | Polanentheater
Advisory (14+): Email 9/12 explores themes of loss, hope, and human connection in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. While it contains references to the events of 9/11, it is also filled with warmth, humour, and uplifting moments.
〰️ Highly recommended 〰️
Great vessel to learn
〰️ Same chills, 25 years later
〰️ Highly recommended 〰️ Great vessel to learn 〰️ Same chills, 25 years later
midge guerrera
conversation with the playwright
by cheryl hart
“Events like that should never happen—but if they do, they must never be forgotten.
And Midge brought me back.
The same tears. The same chills. Just 25 years older.”
“A great vessel for younger generations to learn about the emotional implications of 9/11”
“Using emails is a clever device for a contemporary epistolary play. It will help those who were too young or not born yet to experience what we went through. ”
“A moving, and very human work that captures the horror and the immediate aftermath with graceful theatricality. Highly recommended.”
Email 9/12 photography by @cherylhart_photography
MEET THE CAST
Barbie Insua is a creative strategist whose work explores the intersection of performance, and neurodiversity. She is the founder of More Than Strange, and More Than Story, a creative strategy practice serving organizations in science and technology, has directed with Caltech Theatre and served as an art director and creative strategist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is currently developing A New Stage, a research initiative exploring neurodivergent theatre practice, ensemble training, and new approaches to collaborative performance.
MargaretBarbie Insua
Diego fell in love with acting when he was five, but, as these things go, didn't actually realize it until many decades later. Now that he's embraced his passion you can see him on stage pretty much continuously. He lives in Amsterdam, but pines for Korsou, his home. He loves to drink rum, which is not a hint of any kind, why do you ask?
diego best
Daan, Tony, Everett, Bobby
Nicole Murphy
Ally, Marilyn, Miriam, AnnaritaNicole Murphy is originally from the US, enjoys performing in community theatre and loves the way theatre brings people together through shared stories. Offstage, she works in global communications, where storytelling remains at the heart of what she does. Nicole would like to thank the cast, crew and creative team for making this experience so memorable, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Quin Lems
Helena, Janet, Cindy, Angela, RosieQuin Lems has been part of Amsterdam’s English-language theatre scene since 2017 and appeared in Loving Wendy earlier this year. Previous credits include Downstage Left’s Gobby, Proof, and Don’t Dress for Dinner, as well as productions with The InPlayers and Strike Me Pink Productions. She is grateful to be a part of the English theater community.
Sean Olson - Roy
George, Henry, Pieter, FiremanOriginally from the US, Sean is an actor and singer now based here after retiring. Since the move, he has performed with InPlayers, Our Way Productions, Playhouse, HEAP, Downstage Left and has sung with the Amsterdam Gay Men's Chorus and at Spotlight jazz & blues showcases. When not on stage, Sean is a husband, a father to two now all-grown-up wonderful boys, a live-in servant to two chill-huahuas, a volunteer, and an avid traveler.
MEET THE CREW
george hansel
George Hansel is delighted to direct the Dutch premiere of Email 9/12, having first brought the play to the stage in the United States. The script and its playwright hold a special place in his heart—so much so that George himself inspired one of the play's characters. His passion for thoughtful storytelling and bringing new works to life makes this production especially meaningful.
Director
Evert-Ben van Veen
Whether driving a car full of props & actors, being an emergency stagehand, accountant liaison, or tackling a legal matter, Evert-Ben helps keep every production moving. A semi-retired lawyer, he continues to advise on data protection. A life-long theatre enthusiast, his experiences range from a 1-guilder seat in the gods - to a much better seat at Pierre Bokma’s first 1983 appearance at what is now ITA.
Co-Producer
Midge Guerrera is an award-winning writer, creator, performer, and arts educator whose career has spanned theatre, television, arts education, and cultural tourism. Guerrera splits her time between New Jersey and Southern Italy. Her blog and humorous travel / memoir Cars, Castles, Cows and Chaos share her expat experience. Her non-fiction and fiction have been published in journals, e-zines and academic works.
To discover more about our playwright visit - www.midgeguerrera.com
PlaywrightMidge Guerrera
CHERYL HART
Marketing and PhotographyCheryl Hart is a marketer, photographer, and creative storyteller with a knack for making great projects impossible to ignore. Whether she's capturing the perfect image, crafting compelling promotions, or championing every production she touches, Cheryl brings creativity, enthusiasm, and a sharp eye for detail.
Marc started his theatrical journey as set designer for Into The Woods (HEA Productions), and has kept designing them ever since. He also appears on stage from time to time. First as various characters in Working, as Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q, the Black Knight in Spamalot and King Sextimus in Once Upon A Mattress. When he’s not doing theater-related stuff, he works as a freelance animator and illustrator, and on his own online animated series, which can be found at @cracklewoodforest on most social media sites.
Video ArtistMarc de Wolf
Yann has been part of the Amsterdam English and French theater communities for a decade. You may have seen him onstage (Titanica, She Kills Monsters, A Midsummer Night's Dream) but you'd have mostly found him in the lighting booth during the last couple of years (A Chorus Line, Spelling Bee, Heathers). He is genuinely excited to take over the lighting booth for Email 9/12.
Yann Belin
Lighting design
Rae is happiest with a prompt book in one hand, a headset on, and a cup of coffee that's gone cold because there wasn't time to drink it. Originally trained in Stage Management in London, she now divides her time between directing theatre, photographing people who stand where they're told, and stage managing people who generally don't. She has an unhealthy obsession with colour-coded tape and firmly believes every problem has a spreadsheet-shaped solution.
Stage ManagerRae GerritsEn
Oscar Ramspek
SoundscapeOscar’s background as a professional classical musician & mathematician brings a unique blend of artistry and technical expertise to sound staging. His most recent work was on Under Milkwood at the Polanen. His late wife, Frieda, was a major inspiration for his work in theatre. Oscar’s YouTube channel also features videography recordings from past productions.