Irene Sankoff News

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.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, has announced that they have partnered with The ASCAP Foundation, The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), and SDC Foundation to curate three panel conversations with industry professionals, aimed at providing more insight into the musical development process.

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).

The 2016 Tony Awards are in the history books, so now it's time to look ahead at the 2016-2017 Broadway season. With new musicals and plays about to descend to Broadway and amazing revivals of classic plays and musicals ready to entrance a new audience, BroadwayWorld has rounded up everything arriving next season!

The musical is based on a true story of a small Newfoundland town that came to the aid of thousands stranded on 9/11.

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced the Ford's Theatre 2016-2017 season will begin with the new musical Come From Away directed by Christopher Ashley. Productions include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? directed by Aaron Posner and featuring Holly Twyford as Martha; the musical Ragtime, directed by Peter Flynn and featuring an all-local cast including Kevin McAllister, Tracy Lynn Olivera and Nova Y. Payton; and the 35th-annual production of Washington's holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol. Political comedian Mark Russell will return for a one-night-only performance during the height of election season.

David Mirvish has announced today the 14 shows in the 2016 - 2017 Mirvish Theatre Season. There will be seven shows in the Mainstage Subscription Series, three in the Off-Mirvish Subscription Series, and four bonus shows not on subscription.

Junkyard Dog Productions announced today that the new musical Come From Away will premiere on Broadway in the spring of 2017 at a theatre to be announced following productions at Washington DC's Ford's Theatre as part of their 2016-2017 season from Friday, September 2 - Sunday, October 9, 2016, and in Toronto as part of the Mirvish Theatre's 2016-2017 Subscription Series from Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - Sunday, January 1, 2017, at a Mirvish Theatre to be announced.

Dear Readers, I hope you've all fared well over the holidays and had a good time with your families. It's been a tumultuous year with lots of great theater for us to take in. And so I'm pleased to share with you some of the best things I saw this past year and the ones that I felt worthy of getting my Critic's Choice Awards for 2015. So settle in and allow me to expound on all the amazing I saw over the year. The envelope please.

More than 100 local and national theatre artists representing nearly than 60 San Diego theatrical productions will compete for the 2015 Craig Noel Awards, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle announced today.

Seattle Repertory Theatre is currently presenting the runaway hit musical COME FROM AWAY, which earlier this month officially became the highest grossing show in the history of Seattle Repertory Theatre. COME FROM AWAY also posted the largest single ticket sales day in the history of Seattle Rep on November 20, a record the show has broken nine times since. According to the Toronto Star, the show might get a chance to break records on Broadway as well. 

Seattle Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce that the runaway hit musical COME FROM AWAY has officially become the highest grossing show in the history of Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Seattle Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that, due to overwhelming popular demand, the runaway hit musical Come From Away will be extended with nine additional performances, running through December 20.  Ticket are available now at www.seattlerep.org, (206) 443-2222 and the Seattle Rep box office. Tickets for the extension dates will go on sale Monday, November 30 at 10 a.m.

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.

Seattle Repertory Theatre's 2015-2016 season was announced today by Acting Artistic Director Braden Abraham. The season is headlined by the new musical Come from Away, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced and the world premiere of R. Hamilton Wright's Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem.

David Winitsky (Artistic Director) and Jeremy Stoller (Resident Dramaturg) are excited to announce the opening of Project Submissions for the 2016 Jewish Plays Project Season.