Astrid Van Wieren News

Ford's Theatre Society announced today that the new Irene Sankoff and David Hein musical 'Come From Away,' based on the heart-warming true story of how a small Canadian town cared for 6,579 airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland after 9/11, has extended due to popular demand.

Featuring a book, music, and lyrics by the married Canadian duo of Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away explores a subject area that's bound to bring up some painful memories for some. It's a September 11th musical, but not in the way you might expect. It's not about the towers, the Pentagon, or even really the loss of life. it is a story of a community bonding together to embrace passengers on the 38 planes that were diverted to Canada - specifically Newfoundland - when the U.S. Government closed American air space for the first time in U.S. history. It's one of those untold stories that is practically perfect for an original musical.

The producers of COME FROM AWAY announced today that they will honor the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and the 'come from aways' whose lives inspired the new musical COME FROM AWAY with two special benefit concert performances at Gander's hockey arena, The Steele Community Centre (155 Airport Boulevard, Gander, NL), on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 3pm (NDT) and 8pm (NDT). The benefit concerts, presented in association with the Town of Gander, NL, will star the cast of the Broadway and Toronto productions of COME FROM AWAY. Tickets are now on sale for the two benefit concert performances of COME FROM AWAY in Gander, NL and are $20. For reservations and more information please visit www.gandercanada.tix.com, or contact the Steele Community Centre box office at 709-651-5931 or in person between the hours of 10am (NDT) and 5:30pm (NDT), Monday throughFriday.

Junkyard Dog Productions announced today that the new musical Come From Away will begin performances on Broadway in February 2017 at a Shubert Theater to be announced, following productions at Washington DC's Ford's Theatre (Friday, September 2 - Sunday, October 9, 2016), and Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre (Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - Sunday, January 8, 2017).

Ford's Theatre Society today announced the Ford's Theatre cast for the new musical Come From Away, directed by Christopher Ashley. The production features: Geno Carr (Old Globe's Allegiance), Jenn Colella (Broadway's If/Then); Joel Hatch (Broadway's Annie); Rodney Hicks (Broadway's The Scottsboro Boys); Kendra Kassebaum (Broadway's Wicked); Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan (Round House's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof); Chad Kimball (Broadway's Memphis); Lee MacDougall (Wizard of Oz National Tour); Caesar Samayoa (Broadway's Sister Act); Q. Smith (Broadway's Mary Poppins); Sharon Wheatley (Broadway's Avenue Q); and Astrid Van Wieren (Mama Mia National Tour).

Mother-to-be Elizabeth is haunted by her inconclusive prenatal test results, the fact that she never knew her biological mother... and a talking plastic baby. Deeply personal and darkly comic, Well Born is a twisted dramedy about otherness, acceptance, and facing your fears.

Broadway-bound new musical, Come From Away, presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre, wins four Gypsys, tying with another new musical, Lizard Boy, also produced by Seattle Repertory Theatreand also with four Gypsys, a company that has been known for years as a powerhouse dramatic straight-play playhouse! 

Seattle Theater Writers critics' circle is pleased to present the nomination slate of the fifth annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters in the prior calendar year.

Dear Readers, for those that may only read the beginnings of my reviews, I must start off this by telling you to stop reading this right now and go get tickets to the new musical "Come From Away" currently at the Seattle Rep. After you have done that you can come back and read the rest of this. I'll wait. Done? OK now that you've done that I can tell you that what you will be seeing is the best musical I've seen all year and possibly ever. At least it will rank in my top 10 of shows that have affected me so much with its sheer brilliant storytelling and heart. This one CANNOT be missed!

World-premiere musical COME FROM AWAY comes to Seattle Rep now through December 13 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, COME FROM AWAY is the first musical to be on the main stage of the Rep in over 15 years. It opens tonight, November 18, 2015. Featuring book, music and lyrics by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), the production is directed by La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.

World-premiere musical Come From Away comes to Seattle Rep November 13- December 13 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, Come From Away is the first musical to be on the main stage of the Rep in over 15 years. Featuring book, music and lyrics by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), the production is directed by La Jolla Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Tickets are available now through the Seattle Rep Box Office at 206-443-2222 as well as online at www.seattlerep.org.

La Jolla Playhouse recently announced a second week-long extension for its season opener, Come from Away, a world-premiere musical featuring book, music and lyrics by award-winning husband-and-wife team David Hein and Irene Sankoff, and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. The production runs now through July 12 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

This just in! La Jolla Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its season opener, the world-premiere musical Come from Away, featuring book, music and lyrics by the Canadian husband-and-wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein (My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. A co-production with Seattle Repertory Theatre, Come from Away will run May 29 - July 5 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre (press opening Thursday, June 11).

When a 23-year-old first-time playwright named Michel Tremblay wrote Les Belles-soeurs in 1965, no one could have predicted how it would turn into an international sensation over the next four decades and go on to be produced in over 30 languages.

One Little Goat Theatre Company has announced its cast for the world premiere of Ubu Mayor: A Harmful Bit of Fun, written, directed and composed by Artistic Director Adam Seelig.

After taking Quebec by storm, the smash-hit musical adaptation of Michel Tremblay's landmark work BELLES SOEURS: THE MUSICAL explodes onto the Montreal stage in its premiere English Language incarnation at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts from October 19 to November 9, 2014.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced the VIP presenters for the 35th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards, to be held on Monday, June 23 at at Harbourfront Centre for the very first time.

Lisa Rubin, Artistic and Executive Director, and Paul Flicker, Artistic Producer, today announced the Segal Centre for Performing Arts' 2014-2015 Theatre Season, an ambitious seven-play offering brimming with incredible talent that will dazzle with new takes on beloved stories and premiere musicals.

The 2012 Dora Mavor Moore Awards took place this past Monday night, honouring the best of the best of the past year in Toronto theatre. The evening featured a pre-show VIP reception at The Sony Centre, a gala awards ceremony and the ever popular street party that takes place after the show under the stars on Front St. BWW was on hand to bring you pictures from the event and all the winners!

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA)honors extraordinary talent in the Toronto performing arts community as they host the 33rd annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards tonight, Monday, June 25, at the St. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in the Bluma Appel Theater. As with all awards, BroadwayWorld brings you full coverage of the ceremony. Keep checking back as the list of winners is updated below! And stay tuned in the next couple of days for special photo coverage!