Caelan Creaser* as Janice, Chanel Bragg* as Hannah, and Amy Jo Halliday* as Beverly in Come From Away. Photo by Billy Hardiman
By Jen Barraza
“You are here. At the start of a moment.”
Where were you when you first heard?
Grabbing your morning coffee?
Dropping your kids at school?
Sitting in traffic or heading into a meeting?
Still wrapped in blankets, unaware the world had just shifted beneath your feet?
We all remember where we were, September 11, 2001 is a day we will never forget. A day of fear, confusion, heartbreak, and silence. A day when time seemed to stop. As the world held its breath, something extraordinary was beginning on a remote island in Newfoundland.
In the town of Gander, known more for its airport than its population, nearly 7,000 travelers and 38 planes from around the world were grounded, stranded in a place they had never heard of with nowhere to go. Strangers from all corners of the globe stepped off those planes into the unknown and what they found was not chaos, but kindness. A small town of big-hearted people who welcomed them without hesitation, offering food, shelter, and something much more rare… compassion without condition.
This true story comes to life in Come From Away, the Tony Award-winning musical that has captured hearts across the globe and this January it will be staged in the newly opened The Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J Stephenson Theatre, under the direction of Michael Barnard, Producing Artistic Director of The Phoenix Theatre Company. It is a story told through music, humor, vivid emotion, and deep honesty.
A cast of twelve actors transforms into dozens of characters, bringing to life the passengers, pilots, town leaders, teachers, bus drivers, mothers, chefs, and volunteers. With each note, each line, and each shared experience, this show reminds us that even in the most uncertain times, we can find strength in each other.
At its core, this musical is a love letter to community. It is about how we show up for each other in the moments that matter most and the truth that compassion can cross any border, language, or fear.
The Phoenix Theatre Company is proud to bring this powerful production to life. It reflects our belief that theatre should be: honest, connective, transformative, and deeply human.
Whether this is your first time seeing Come From Away or your fifth, this show will leave you changed. You will laugh. You will cry. And you will remember the stories that matter most.
“You are here. At the start of a moment.”
38 planes. 7,000 strangers. One unforgettable act of humanity that united us all.
Come From Away runs January 28 through March 29. Tickets are on sale now.
This is more than a show. This is a moment to be shared.
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