COME FROM AWAY London-Made Production To Close Grand Theatre Season

The Grand Theatre is unveiling a new London Made production of the beloved Canadian musical, Come From Away. Director Julie Tomaino returns to the Grand to lead a new vision and an all-star Canadian company for this season's fastest-selling production and the Grand Theatre's 2025/26 season finale.

“How do you re-imagine a show when the original is so well-known? What makes a non-replica production great? These were the questions that lived in my brain when I started dreaming about our production. What to do with this iconic, practically perfect, original production?” reveals Tomaino. “We are honouring what makes Come From Away special while also reimagining what that looks like.”

At the heart of it, are words inscribed on the wall at Gander International Airport, and a powerful visual to represent both individual identity and shared connection.

“You Are Here – a simple phrase that means so many things. You Are Here is Gander, You Are Here is symbolically every passenger forced into the present moment due to unimaginable tragedy, You Are Here is Canada. Iconic red chairs mark more than 100 locations throughout Canada's national parks, marking You Are Here in this beautiful country,” shares Tomaino. “The Parks Canada red chairs originated in Newfoundland, where our story takes place. We ran with it – making chairs the centrepiece of our production, representing individuals from all over the world, representing countries, religious backgrounds, and communities.”

Come From Away at the Grand Theatre is London Made exclusively for this production by the Grand Theatre Scenic, Props, and Wardrobe Teams and is run by a talented London stage crew including audio, lighting, scenic automation, dressers, and stagehands.

Set Designer Scott Penner's bold, expansive vision for the set called for more than 180 wooden chairs – all on stage at once, mounted on towering 23-foot walls. London and area answered this call, with community members rallying behind social media posts, quickly donating as many as were needed and some to spare!

“In programming this show, and in the incredible response I have had from Londoners in their excitement to come and see this brand-new London-made production, I can feel that sense of coming together,” shares Rachel Peake, Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre. “In addition to the impact of these incredible stories, tunes, and performances, I believe the sense of community it creates is this show's greatest gift.”

The cast includes Darrin Baker as Claude, Divine Brown as Hannah, Sheldon Elter as Oz, Izad Etemadi as Kevin T, Joema Frith as Bob, Steven Gallagher as Nick, Andrew Hodwitz as Standby, Kelly Holiff as Janice, Lori Nancy Kalamanski as Diane, Heather McGuigan as Standby, Denise Oucharek as Bonnie, Darlene Spencer as Beulah, Cailin Stadnyk as Beverley, Alex Wierzbicki as Kevin J, and Travae Williams as Standby.

Each member of the cast will play additional roles beyond those named above – twelve performers on stage at a time, telling the stories of hundreds. Working alongside Director Julie Tomaino is a dazzling creative team recruited from across the country, including Music Director Sarah Richardson, Choreographer Nicol Spinola, Set Designer Scott Penner, Costume Designer Ming Wong 黄慧明, Lighting Designer Jareth Li, Sound Designer Brian Kenny, Intimacy Director Dani Jazzar, and Stage Manager Erika Morey – and more including a quartet of Dialect Coaches.

Richardson will conduct the live orchestra performing on the stage, including herself on Keyboard and Accordion, Matt Ballagh on Mandolin, Dale-Anne Brendon on Drums, Jennifer Cahill on Whistles, Romano Di Nillo on Bodhrán, Stephen Ingram on Guitar, Erik Larson on Bass, and Devon Martene on Fiddle.

Come From Away plays on the Spriet Stage at the Grand Theatre from April 28 to May 31. Single tickets are priced starting at $29.95 and are available in-person at the Box Office, by phone at 519.672.8800, and online at grandtheatre.com/event/come-from-away.

The Grand Theatre is grateful to offer Canada Life Pay-What-You-Can pricing presented on Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m.

The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges Season Sponsor BMO, Downtown Community Partner Old Oak Properties, and Title Sponsor Digital Extremes for their generous support.

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