The Actors' Fund of America, the support organization for the showbusiness industry, has organized two drop-in support groups, from 3-4:30 PM Sept. 13-14 in Manhattan for anyone in the entertainment industry in need of support.

"We will gather to talk and be with others at The Actors' Fund's main office in NYC, 729 Seventh Avenue, 10th Floor," according to Catherine Cooke of The Actors' Fund. "People do not need to call in advance — they can just come."

Like others in New York and around the country, people in the theatre community face questions about loss, death, hopelessness and how to move forward with work and everyday life in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on New York City.

Actors in New York and around the country have sent e-mails to Playbill On-Line expressing frustration and dismay about having to work or rehearse in the time of national crisis. On Sept. 11, the day of the destruction of the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, rehearsals for A Little Night Music at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, were canceled and lunch was brought in for the company. A prayer group was organized for those who wished to join, according to a Goodspeed spokesperson.

— By Kenneth Jones