On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.
COME FROM AWAY is the breathtaking musical that reminds you of what good the human spirit is capable of. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and directed by Christopher Ashley, this musical shines a lot on the best of what we are capable in the absolute worst of times.
In a heartbeat, 38 planes with 6,579 passengers were stranded in a remote town in Newfoundland on a devastating day in September 2001. The locals in Gander opened their hearts and homes to thousands of stranded strangers, spurring unexpected camaraderie in extraordinary circumstances.
Hein and Sarnoff are not Sondheim. The folksy songs in Come From Away are nearly all expository rather than revelatory (a key exception being the coming-of-age number 'Me And The Sky,' sung with perfect fervor by Jenn Colella as Beverley Bass, the first female captain of a commercial airline). The show, staged with kinetic enthusiasm by Christopher Ashley with Kelly Devine, positively reeks of integrity - positive being the operative word. In the company of 16, nearly all play multiple roles. The standouts, in addition to Colella, are Kendra Kassebaum as a novice reporter, Chad Kimball and Caesar Samayoa as boyfriends named Kevin, Rodney Hicks as a skeptic finally undone by generosity, and Astrid Van Wieren as a voice of reason. Come From Away eludes the jaded critic's arsenal of dismissive thrusts. It's necessary balm for this mean time.
The true-life story that inspired the new musical Come From Away would seem like the stuff of a Frank Capra movie. The show relates the tale of how a small Newfoundland town in 2001 found itself unexpectedly hosting 7,000 airline passengers stranded there for days after 9/11. But though the material might have lent itself to sickly sweet sentimentality, creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein have crafted a heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining musical. Especially in these politically fractious times, it should prove a true crowd-pleaser on Broadway following previous hit engagements in San Diego, Washington D.C. and Toronto.
| 2016 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Ford's Theater Production Washington, DC (Regional) |
| 2017 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 2018 | Toronto |
Toronto Production Toronto |
| 2018 | US Tour |
First National Tour US Tour |
| 2021 | West End |
Original West End Production West End |
| 2023 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Kelly Devine |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Toni-Leslie James |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Christopher Ashley |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Jenn Colella |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Come From Away |
| 2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | August Eriksmoen |
| 2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway of Off-Broadway Musical | Come From Away |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreographer | Kelly Devine |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Christopher Ashley |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Jenn Colella |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Come From Away |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical) | Gareth Owen |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Kelly Devine |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Christopher Ashley |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Howell Binkley |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Howell Binkley |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Irene Sankoff |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Jenn Colella |
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