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Irene Sankoff Headshot

Irene Sankoff

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BIO

Irene Sankoff and David Hein are a Canadian married writing team. Their first show, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (based on David’s mother’s true story) was the hit of the Toronto Fringe Festival, and then picked up for a commercial run by Mirvish Productions. It has now played and won best musical awards in the New York Musical Theatre Festival and across North America, with Sankoff and Hein performing in most productions. Come From Away was developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project and Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, showcased at the NAMT Festival of New Works and enjoyed a record setting world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory, followed by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and the Gander Community Centre Hockey Rink. Come From Away won three 2017 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, four Helen Hayes Awards, five Outer Critics Circle Awards and three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. David and Irene were nominated for Tony® Awards for Best Book and Score and won the 2017 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for Best Book. Irene and David are proud members of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP. Immeasurable thanks to all of Molly’s People, to everyone who helped us on this journey and to our extraordinary friends from Away and in Newfoundland for inspiring and trusting us to tell your story.

Photos

Productions

 
[West End, 2021] [Replacement]
Book, Music, Lyrics[Replacement]
 
[US Tour, 2018] [Replacement]
Book, Music, Lyrics[Replacement]

Writing

Book, Music, and Lyrics

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Lyrics

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Music

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Book of a Musical

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Irene Sankoff, Come From Away

Videos

News


Review: COME FROM AWAY DIE VON WOANDERS at Landestheater Linz
by Martin Ganeider - Nov 16, 2025

COME FROM AWAY ( Die VON WOANDERS), the critically acclaimed show, arrived in Austria at the beautiful (but huge) Landestheater Linz.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld November 7, 2025- RAGTIME Extends Broadway Run and More
by - Nov 7, 2025

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is November 7, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Licensing Rights Now Available for COME FROM AWAY
by Nicole Rosky - Nov 6, 2025

Based on the remarkable true story that took place in an isolated community, Come From Away is a critically acclaimed musical featuring an enduringly relevant script accompanied by a deeply moving score by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. 
BWW Q&A: Carla Woods Talks COME FROM AWAY at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Joshua Wright - Nov 4, 2025

Come from Away tells the inspiring true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in the remote town of Gander, Newfoundland in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. As fear and uncertainty gripped the world, the people of Gander responded with open arms.
Photos: Meet the Cast of COME FROM AWAY at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 4, 2025

Asolo Repertory Theatre has released first look photos of the cast of COME FROM AWAY, launching the 2025–26 season with performances November 12–December 28, 2025.
COME FROM AWAY, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN And More Set for Capitol Theatre 2026 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 29, 2025

Artistic Director Rob Kempson has announced the Capitol Theatre’s 2026 season, Where Our Stories Begin, featuring ten Canadian productions, five world premieres, and three musicals across its Mainstage, Second Stage, and Music Lovers’ Series.
Oregon Shakespeare Announces Cast for COME FROM AWAY, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and More
by Gillian Blum - Oct 18, 2025

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced select casing and creative teams for its 2026 season's productions, including A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, COME FROM AWAY, and more.
Cast Set for COME FROM AWAY at Asolo Repertory Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 17, 2025

Asolo Repertory Theatre has revealed the complete casting for COME FROM AWAY, set to be presented beginning in November. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
COME FROM AWAY Regional Premiere Comes to MusicalFare Theatre This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 6, 2025

MusicalFare Theatre will open its 2025–2026 season and celebrate its residency at Shea’s 710 Theatre with the regional premiere of Come From Away, running October 23–November 9 in Buffalo.
Review: Vibrant New Production of COME FROM AWAY Debuts at La Mirada
by Michael Quintos - Sep 26, 2025

Still quite a rousing crowd-pleaser—offering empathy and kindness as its main endearing ingredient— La Mirada Theatre's brand new, 'non-replica' production of the Tony-winning musical COME FROM AWAY is a superb, rather enjoyable new Broadway-caliber production that is as every bit as appealing as the characters that populate it. Energetically directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds, the show exudes a joy and pleasantness that few musicals are able to achieve with such ease. Funny, touching, celebratory, appropriately honorable, and musically endearing, COME FROM AWAY remains an awe-inspiring theatrical testament to compassion, and will forever remind us that even in the shadow of horrific, unbelievable devastation, humanity's capacity for kindness and generosity can—and should—take center stage.
Interview: Kathy Mulay of COME FROM AWAY at Farmers Alley Theatre
by Brian Hilbrand - Sep 23, 2025

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Come from Away.  Come from Away is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters in the musical are based on actual Gander residents and stranded travelers they housed and fed. Come From Away at Farmers Alley Theatre runs September 25th- October 26th, with an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Saturday, October 4th at 2:00pm.  We had the chance to interview the Director and Costume Designer for Come From Away, and see what Kathy Mulay had to say, as well as her thoughts on Come From Away.
Interview: Curt Denham of COME FROM AWAY at Farmers Alley Theatre
by Brian Hilbrand - Sep 22, 2025

Farmers Alley Theatre is presenting Come from Away. We had the chance to interview an Actor from the show who plays Claude, and see what Curt Denham had to say, as well as his thoughts on Come From Away. Come From Away at Farmers Alley Theatre runs September 25th- October 26th, with an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Saturday, October 4th at 2:00 pm.
Photos: La Mirada Theatre & McCoy Rigby Entertainment's COME FROM AWAY
by Gillian Blum - Sep 20, 2025

Check out production photos of La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment's COME FROM AWAY, running through October 12, 2025.
COME FROM AWAY Is the Most-Produced Show of 2025/26
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 18, 2025

American Theatre magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group, has just released Top 10 Most-Produced Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights for the new season.  We have all of the details!
COME FROM AWAY Circa Begins in November at ’21 Dinner Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 12, 2025

Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is welcoming audiences to experience the uplifting power of the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away, now running through November 1. 
Diamond Head Theatre Opens 2025"26 Season With COME FROM AWAY
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 12, 2025

Diamond Head Theatre opens its 2025–26 season with the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away, running September 12–28, 2025. The show tells the true story of Gander, Newfoundland’s hospitality after 9/11.
Northern Stage Hosts Week Of Solo Performances In October
by Stephi Wild - Sep 10, 2025

​​​​​​​Northern Stage has announced a week of special solo performances, “A” Train by Annie Torsiglieri and Robert Frost: This Verse Business by A.M. Dolan, starring Emmy Award winner Gordon Clapp.
COME FROM AWAY Will Have First Production at Sea on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
by Stephi Wild - Sep 9, 2025

Cunard will bring Come From Away, the Tony Award and Oliver Award-winning show, to sea for the first time ever in an exclusive production in collaboration with Music Theatre International.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN, COME FROM AWAY, & More Set For Theatre Raleigh 2026 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 8, 2025

Theatre Raleigh has announced its 2026 season, a lineup that brings Broadway blockbusters, site-specific productions, and holiday favorites to Triangle audiences.
Review: COME FROM AWAY at Paramount Theatre Aurora, IL
by Tina St. Angelo - Sep 2, 2025

The town of Gander, Newfoundland, is called the Rock. The current production at Paramount Theatre is the emotional but uplifting true story Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Irene Sankoff written?

Irene Sankoff has written 1 shows including Come From Away (Book, Music, and Lyrics).

What awards has Irene Sankoff been nominated for?

Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Lyrics (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Music (Drama Desk Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Come From Away, Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Come From Away, Best Book of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Come From Away and Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for Come From Away.

What awards has Irene Sankoff won?

Irene Sankoff has won the Outstanding Book of a Musical award at the Drama Desk Awards for Come From Away. She also received the Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Come From Away.

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Videos