On a day that shook the world, a tiny Newfoundland airport became an unlikely beacon of humanity. Decades later, that extraordinary moment found its voice on stage.
Running January 28 through March 29, 2026, at The Phoenix Theatre Company’s Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J Stephenson Theatre, Come From Away brings to life an astonishing chapter of history that transformed tragedy into an enduring testament to human generosity.
This Tony Award-winning production tells how a remote Canadian town doubled its population overnight, turning strangers into family during one of America’s darkest hours. That week of unexpected grace rippled outward to create lasting bonds, economic transformation, and a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when we choose to welcome over fear.
The Night 7,000 Strangers Arrived
September 11, 2001. As terror unfolded across the United States, American airspace shut down completely, a first in history. Thirty-eight international flights carrying nearly 7,000 passengers suddenly needed somewhere to land. Their destination: Gander, Newfoundland, a fishing village of 10,000 residents whose airport, once a crucial transatlantic refueling stop, had long since faded from prominence.
Within hours, the entire community mobilized. Schools became shelters. Kitchens worked around the clock. Pharmacies filled prescriptions for free. Residents opened their homes, their closets, even their medicine cabinets to complete strangers from 95 nations who spoke dozens of languages and practiced different faiths.
“On day one we had 7,000 strangers, on day three we had 7,000 friends, and on day five we lost 7,000 family members,” recalled then-Mayor Claude Elliott, capturing the profound bonds forged in just five days.
From Oral Histories to Opening Night
In 2011, Writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein went to Gander for the tenth anniversary commemorations. What began as research became an obsession. For nearly a month, they conducted interviews, recording testimonies that would shape every element of their musical.
They met Beverley Bass, who made aviation history as American Airlines’ first female captain and found herself grounded mid-flight from Paris to Dallas. They spoke with Bonnie Harris, the SPCA manager who courageously entered airplane cargo holds to rescue 19 stranded animals, including endangered bonobo apes.
They documented the unexpected love story of Diane and Nick Marson, a Texan woman and British man who met as passengers on a diverted flight, fell in love during their stranded week, married within a year, and returned to Newfoundland for their honeymoon.
The creative challenge was unprecedented: honoring profound experiences without exploiting tragedy. Their solution demanded rigorous authenticity. Every scene stems from documented testimonies. Song lyrics emerged directly from interview transcripts, preserving actual phrases and cadences. If a moment couldn’t be traced to verified accounts, it was cut.
The score itself draws from Newfoundland’s rich Celtic-influenced folk traditions. Fiddles, bodhrán drums, and harmonies that characterize the island’s culture became the heartbeat of the show, organizing disparate voices into something unified and deeply moving.
Come From Away opened on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 12, 2017. The production earned seven Tony nominations, winning Best Direction of a Musical.
Why This Story Matters Now
Director Michael Barnard brings this production to Phoenix at a moment when its themes resonate with particular urgency.
Elliott, who now speaks worldwide about the experience, articulated the show’s enduring relevance to The Ottawa Citizen, “I think the biggest lesson I learned in all of what happened is, with a little bit of compassion, it can be a better world. As we look around our world today, it’s in turmoil but we had people from 95 countries who slept together, laughed together, cried together, ate together. They did it all. We proved we can do it, and that’s what the world needs today.”
Twelve actors portray all the roles, constantly shifting between townspeople and passengers, reinforcing how interconnected these lives became.
As Phoenix Theatre audiences experience this production in the brand-new Stephenson Theatre, they’ll encounter a story that transcends its historical moment. Yes, it documents September 11th and its immediate aftermath.
More fundamentally, it explores the choice we all face when confronted with another person’s need: do we close our doors, or do we open them?
Gander chose to open theirs. That decision was proof that our best instincts can prevail, even on our worst days.
Details
Dates: January 28 – March 29, 2026
Location: The Phoenix Theatre Company, Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J. Stephenson Theatre
Tickets: phoenixtheatre.com | (602) 254-2151
Production Sponsor: Miracle Mile Deli
ASL Performance: January 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM
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