The horrendous events of Sept. 11, 2001, impelled Broadway producers to cancel performances of their shows for that evening. On this year's first anniversary of the terrorist attacks, many of those same productions, as well as some new ones, will voluntarily go dark.
Because the date falls on a Wednesday this year, that will mean matinees as well as evening shows will be eliminated.
Many of the Broadway shows will schedule performances on another day to make up for the lost show. In addition, several Off-Broadway shows will be dark on Sept. 11.
As of Sept. 9, the following Broadway productions will not perform on Sept. 11, according to the League of American Theatres and Producers:
| Show | Sept. 11/02 | Perfs Added |
| 42nd Street | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm |
| Aida | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm, Sunday 9/15: 7:30pm |
| Beauty & Beast | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm, Tuesday 9/10: 8pm |
| Chicago | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm |
| Frankie and Johnny | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm, Sunday 9/15: 8pm |
| The Graduate | 2pm canceled | |
| Into the Woods | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm |
| Les Miserables | Dark | Sunday 9/15: 3pm, 8pm |
| The Lion King | Dark | Tuesday 9/10: 8pm, Thursday 9/12: 2pm |
| Mamma Mia! | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm, Sunday 9/15: 8pm |
| Oklahoma! | Dark | (start of fall schedule) |
| The Phantom of the Opera | Dark | Sunday 9/15: 3pm, 8pm |
| Urinetown | Dark | Monday 9/9: 8pm |
Press spokesman Chris Boneau, whose firm Boneau/Bryan-Brown represents the Disney shows, as well as Frankie and Johnny, Cabaret, Urinetown, 42nd Street and Mamma Mia!, said "All of them are doing it out or respect. From the Disney standpoint, the move is in anticipation of memorials and events that will likely happen on that day."
Another reason fueling producers' decision to shut their doors on Sept. 11 may be the fact that few tickets are reportedly being sold for performances on that date.
— By Robert Simonson and David Gewirtzman
