03/05/2026
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
We are pleased to introduce a new Modern Warrior production that features FDNY World Trade Center firefighter Bill Spade together with Jaymes Poling (combat veteran who fought in the subsequent war). We will debut the new show in this year of remembrance, and we are thrilled to finally share this with you.
Behind the Lines: a 9/11 Story is a live story, music, and theatre production set against the tragedy of 9/11 and the war that followed. The show features World Trade Center firefighter Bill Spade — the sole survivor of FDNY Rescue Company 5 — and Jaymes Poling, a three-tour Afghanistan combat veteran and the original storyteller behind Modern Warrior. Together, they relive their experiences and find a deep connection shaped by service, resilience, and the weight of what they continue to carry.
From Modern Warrior creators Dominick Farinacci & Jaymes Poling:
Eight years ago we met. Our discussion about misconceptions surrounding veterans, the stigma around mental health, and the need to more widely share these stories sparked an idea we pursued together - a new model of storytelling that brings the individual whose story it is directly to the stage, surrounded by an immersive music and theatre experience.
Since then, we’ve toured our flagship production Modern Warrior LIVE around the country and have built partnerships with leaders in mental health, veteran and first responder communities. Together, we’ve created spaces for meaningful dialogue around how life-changing events shape our lives, our mental wellbeing, and our communities. Our work has expanded to include a wide range of individuals sharing their stories including veterans, first responders, caregivers, individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration, and more.
Now, 25 years after the September 11 attacks, we begin the next chapter of this work welcoming Bill Spade to our team — bringing his story to stages across the country while also developing a documentary film that will follow the project.
For those of us old enough to remember, we know exactly where we were that day. At the same time, an entire generation has now grown up without a living memory of it.
This production is our continued effort to honor those who gave so much in the face of unimaginable tragedy, remember those who were lost, address how life-changing events impact our mental health, and, in this context, ensure that the stories of that day — and the years that followed — are never forgotten.
It has been incredibly meaningful to work together, and with our director Emmett Murphy who has been with us since the earliest days of Modern Warrior. Welcoming Bill Spade to our team has been deeply inspiring.
We are grateful for the courage of all the storytellers we’ve worked with so far, the dedication of our creative team, and the support of so many along the way, and we look forward to sharing more about Behind the Lines: a 9/11 Story as the production unfolds.
Dominick Farinacci & Jaymes Poling, creators of Modern Warrior
Directed by Emmett Murphy
