The Theatre Development Fund's discount theatre ticket service, TKTS, in 2 World Trade Center, was destroyed along with the twin towers Sept. 11, but no TDF employees were lost in the terrorist attack.

A TDF employee was opening up the office at the time of the morning plane crashes and was able to escape, TDF's David LeShay told Playbill On-Line Sept. 12. The discount ticket location in the World Trade Center is the sister of the more visible Times Square-Duffy Square TKTS Booth that offers theatregoers a chance to see Broadway, Off-Broadway and other performing events at a discount when bought the same day of the performance. The downtown booth on the mezzanine level of the 2 World Trade Center sold between 900-1,000 tickets a day, according to TDF and was open every day but Sunday. At its busiest time of the week, 4-6 employees would work the booth.

The following announcement was posted on the TDF website (www.tdf.org): "All of us at TDF are saddened by the recent tragedies and we extend our deepest sympathies to those affected. We are grateful that all TDF staff who worked at the TKTS Booth at 2 World Trade Center are safe. The TKTS Discount Ticket Booth in Duffy Square (Broadway and 47th Street) will reopen when regular performances resume on Broadway. Due to this public emergency, TDF's offices will be closed today, Wednesday, Sept. 12th."

The world was shocked by the deliberate terrorist attack on New York's famed twin towers. On the morning of Sept. 11, hijackers commandeered two commercial jetliners with passengers and plowed one each into the towers, causing great loss of life in the planes, buildings and on the ground.

Theatres in New York and around the country followed the lead of the federal, state and local governments and shut down Sept. 11. — By Kenneth Jones