Andréa Burns is a beloved Broadway star whose many credits include In the Heights, The Notebook, On Your Feet!, Dear World, The Light in the Piazza, Songs for a New World, West Side Story, and more. She is currently starring as Diane in Come from Away at Paper Mill Playhouse.
COME FROM AWAY to Perform on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center Special
The annual holiday special will air Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 8-10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
By: Michael Major
NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" promises an evening of cheer with a special performance by the cast from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning hit Broadway musical "Come From Away" prior to the iconic tree lighting. The annual holiday special will air Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 8-10 p.m. ET/PT.
The special will also include performances from the Pentatonix, José Feliciano, CNCO and the previously announced Alessia Cara, Harry Connick Jr., Mickey Guyton, Norah Jones, Brad Paisley, Rob Thomas, Carrie Underwood and the Radio City Rockettes. NBC News' "TODAY" co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin are set to host.
The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to 1931 during the Great Depression. The first official tree-lighting ceremony occurred two years later in 1933 in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building (the current Comcast Building). The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating rink. NBC-TV televised the tree lighting for the first time in 1951 on "The Kate Smith Show" and as part of the nationwide "Howdy Doody" television show from 1953-55.
The 89th annual holiday special will celebrate the lighting of a 79-foot tall, 46-foot wide Norway Spruce from Elkton, Md. The tree weighs approximately 12 tons, will be adorned with more than 50,000 multi-colored energy efficient LED lights and topped with a stunning Swarovski star.
The Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical Come From Away is now playing at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The cast features De'lon Grant; Joel Hatch; Caesar Samayoa; James Seol; Q. Smith; Petrina Bromley; Olivier Award nominee Rachel Tucker; Astrid Van Wieren; Emily Walton; Jim Walton; Sharon Wheatley; Paul Whitty; Josh Breckenridge; John Jellison; Tony LePage; Monette McKay; Happy McPartlin and Julie Reiber.
COME FROM AWAY began performances on February 18, 2017, and officially opened to critical acclaim on March 12, 2017, at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), where the show continued to play to standing- room-only audiences until it was forced to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020, the evening of its third anniversary on Broadway. On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, Come From Away will return to Broadway to play its 1,251st performance.
COME FROM AWAY tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
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Podcasts
COME FROM AWAY — The Most Produced Play of the Year, part 2
This is the second part of this Encore Episode from 2021 featuring a conversation with Irene Sankoff & David Hein — the dynamic writing team and married couple that created the international smash hit musical Come From Away which recently topped American Theatre magazine's list of the most produced plays in America in 2025/26.
The Most Produced Play in America: Come From Away
My guests today are Irene Sankoff & David Hein – the dynamic writing team and married couple that created the giant international smash hit musical Come From Away. Five productions of Come From Away have recently reopened around the world: Broadway, Toronto, London, Sydney and on tour across America.
#96 - Caesar Samayoa - Takes Us Back to the Copa
Just in Time’s Caesar Samayao visited Behind the Awards to discuss his multiple roles in the show including the legendary Don Kurshnier. Caesar recounts his time creating his track in Come From Away, The Pee Wee Herman Show and How to Dance to Ohio.
Ep386 - Caesar Samayoa: Trust the Team, Tell the Story
Whether he’s helping shape a brand-new show or breathing life into real people onstage, Caesar Samayoa brings authenticity and heart to every role. In this conversation, Caesar shares what it's like building Just in Time from the ground up—balancing daily rehearsals with nightly performances, and trusting in the collaborative energy of a veteran cast.
#65 - Rodney Hicks - With Love and Gratitude
Original Rent cast member Rodney Hicks joins Behind the Awards to recount the creation of the cult phenomenon Rent and his friendship with Jonathon Larson. Fun Fact the OBC still has an active group text.
Ep 403- "Come From Away" Comes To Detroit! Kathleen Cameron Tells Us All About It!
Broadway’s COME FROM AWAY is a Best Musical winner all across North America! It rolls into Detroit's Fisher Theatre Feb 11-14th! We need this show more than ever! This New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them.
Episode 159: Dance In Musical Theatre — A History of the Body in Movement
My guests this week are Dustyn Martincich & Phoebe Rumsey who have edited and authored (along with a number of other contributors) a recent book titled Dance In Musical Theatre — A History of the Body in Movement.
178 - Guys & Dolls Revival at The Bridge...Cast Change Special with Jonathan Andrew Hume
Today, we have both a returning guest and a returning show…although not what you’d expect. Listeners of this podcast will remember Jonathan Andrew Hume from the original London Cast of the Olivier Award winning best musical “Come From Away” as one of the Kevins.
Broadway's Caesar Samayoa (How to Dance in Ohio): "Be Your Truest Self"
Broadway star Caesar Samayoa (Come From Away) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss his heart-lifting new show How to Dance in Ohio, self care on Broadway and much more under the kindness sun.
COME FROM AWAY (Maui Reissue) with Hōkū Pavao & Geno Carr
A great musical will often grow and change as its audience does, and as the people of Maui continue the long road of processing the recent devastation left by deadly wildfires, we realized it was time to relook at the musical COME FROM AWAY.
#197 - Ricardo Castro - COME FROM AWAY West End
Ricardo Castro / @rico_castro was last seen in London on the West End in Come From Away and is now touring the US playing the role of Heathcliff in the in "Wuthering Heights"! https://builtforthestage.com/ - fill out the form and ask about our next fitness challenge!
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