BY DARLENE DONLOE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are a million stories in the naked city, but virtually none as gripping, emotional and gut-wrenching as the ones told in “110 Stories.”

“110 Stories,” written by Sarah Tuft, is a tribute to those who died in 9/11, were witnesses to the atrocity, and/or survived and lived through what turned out to be the worst terrorist act ever perpetrated on the United States.

But not all of the stories are horrific; some tell of dedication and service.

Told by some of Hollywood’s best actors, who read passages of actual accounts, the presentation on Feb. 22 is a reminder of the lives that were lost in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 and how that day forever changed America.

One by one, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Michael Beach, Ed Asner, Joseph C. Phillips, Nick Turturro, Sharon Lawrence and many more took the mic at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood and told stories, whether they were tragic, gruesome or triumphant.

“110 Stories,” held as a benefit performance for the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, is an affecting piece, because it’s actual personal accounts that bring what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, up close and personal.

Tuft, who wrote the play to raise funds for charities, and to memorialize the 10 firemen lost from her local firehouse, collected more than a hundred first-person accounts before using them for the production. She hoped that by giving voice to those who were actually there, the play could restore dimension to Sept. 11.

“I grew up in New York and I worked in New York, and clearly it changed the whole country,” said Michael Beach, who revealed he knew several people personally affected by 9/11, including firefighters and policemen, who worked on the television show “Third Watch,” on which he starred. “I think in order for us to help the Red Cross and to help other places like Haiti, I think this is fantastic. It’s one tragedy helping another.”

Warner (of “The Cosby Show”), who lived and worked in New York, also knew several people affected by the 9/11 tragedy.

“This story still affects a lot of people,” Warner said. “I begged to be a part of this because it hits close to home. These are personal stories from people who actually lived through this thing. These stories touch you where you live.”

There were several stories of firefighters, some who lost their lives running to the tragedy, others who lost friends and comrades, and still more struggling to understand how something so devastating could happen on American soil.

There’s the policeman who actually saw a piece of a plane engine hit a woman’s leg and rip it open. Another who witnessed a falling piece of slab kill a couple walking down the street. And another who saw a falling body kill a passerby.

Then there’s the New York Post photographer (played by Stelio Savante) who took pictures of several men and women jumping out of windows to escape the intense flames.

After witnessing one body hit the pavement and break into pieces, he decided to keep his camera pointed up. He remembers the sound. It was like a grenade. He grimaces at the thought.

One story after the next was more powerful than the one before.

It made for an emotional evening.

“These stories just remind us that we’re all in this together,” Beach said.

“110 Stories” is directed by Mark Freiburger and produced by Stelio Savante and Andrew Carlberg.