Come From Away at Academy of Music

Academy Of Music proudly hosts some of the best Broadway performances around, and this winter that lineup includes Come From Away. This musical adaptation of the book by the same name follows the true events-inspired story of Gander, Newfoundland, and its remarkable spirit of generosity amid catastrophe.

Synopsis

During the early hours of September 11, 2001, the FAA shut down their airspace as an emergency response to the Twin Towers debacle. This shutdown forced multiple planes to ground early and, fortunately, America's neighbor to the north opened its airports and military bases to the planes that America wanted on the ground. Among the many cities that took in stranded passengers was Gander in Newfoundland, a relatively small town of only 10,000 people.

The townsfolk welcomed the 6,579 stranded passengers with open arms and homes. The beautiful storytelling of this Broadway event displays the various cultural clashes and adjustments of these two groups learning to live together while ultimately forming meaningful relationships. This Broadway performance gives the audience an uplifting message of hope, heart, and the power of serving others in troubling times. 

History

The show's inception started with Michael Rubinoff, a lawyer and theater producer from Toronto. Rubinoff partnered with a few different writing teams but eventually left it to David Hein and Irene Sankoff to turn this uplifting true story into a moving theatrical performance. Together, these two iconic storytellers wrote a book about the events and the music and lyrics for the spectacle they workshopped in Ontario.

After hearing the first-person reports, the writers workshopped a 45-minute production for the Canadian Music Theatre Project in 2012. The performance's success later led to a full-on musical production at Sheridan in 2013, finding its way to The National Alliance for Musical Theatre in New York. Eventually, Come From Away would arrive in the United States, performing for crowds in San Diego and Washington D.C. before finally making its Broadway appearance in 2017.

Awards

Following seven musical nominations for the 71st Tony Awards, Come From Away became the longest-running Canadian musical on Broadway. The highly acclaimed musical has also won several awards, including the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical in 2017 and a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2017. From iconic songs like "Welcome to the Rock" and "On the Edge" to the stunningly talented cast, which includes Phillip Lowe, Alice Fearn, and David Thaxton, this Tony Award nominee guarantees the musical experience of a lifetime.

Come From Away comes to Academy Of Music on Sunday 9th February 2025, so book your tickets now starting at $71!