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.
Imagine a musical, based on a true story, that celebrates kindness and charity toward distressed foreigners. At a moment in history when certain politicians are telling us to fear and reject immigrants, we're shown ordinary people who act spontaneously out of a concern for others. Come from Away, which opened Sunday at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, doesn't have an ironic or cynical bone in its body. It's a celebration of the best human instincts, and, particularly coming at this time, doesn't seem at all hokey. It's cheering and refreshing.
The lump that forms in your throat in the opening minutes of 'Come From Away' - and remains lodged there for 100 buoyant minutes more - is the physiological confirmation that this effervescent musical, enveloped in Canadian good will, is an antidote for what ails the American soul...The alternating stories of the townspeople and the strangers in their midst - all played by a dozen superbly cast actors - are communicated vivaciously by book and songwriters Irene Sankoff and David Hein, in a bracingly kinetic production directed by Christopher Ashley, doing some of the most impressive work of his career. With the arrival of 'Come From Away' to Broadway's 2016-17 season, joining such accomplished new shows as 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,'the Tony race for best musical of the year just got interesting.
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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