23 years have passed and the aftermath of the terrible tragedy of September 11th still haunts us to this day. Many of us, myself included, have stories connected to this event, so it was only a matter of time before someone made a musical about it. COME FROM AWAY, with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, was written to honor and share the extraordinary true story of the town of Gander, Newfoundland’s response to the September 11th crisis. Thanks to Celebrity Attractions, this wonderful story was performed on stage at the Robinson Center in Little Rock from August 2-4 and we were all truly overwhelmed by a story we didn’t even know we needed to heal together.
COME FROM AWAY tells the story of the 7,000 stranded airline passengers and the townspeople who welcomed these “airplane people” with open arms, offering them food, shelter and comfort. As the townspeople came to terms with the 38 planes landing, they began to hatch a plan to accommodate the excess numbers. The people of Gander began gathering supplies, opening buildings as shelters, and even the school bus drivers temporarily put their strike on hold so they could transport the people to different locations. Relationships began to form between the townspeople and the airplane people, and between the airplane people as well. They celebrated each other and were sad to part when it was time to go. This display of love and kindness was an inspiration to the world.
I loved how the stories were woven together and how skillfully the actors switched from one character to another. They were all interesting, but there were a few character stories that really stood out. Beverley (Addison Garner) was American Airlines’ first female pilot. Bonnie (Kathleen Cameron) was Gander’s animal activist who cared for the animals on the plane. Claude (Andrew Hendrick) was the mayor of Gander during the events. Nick (Stanton Morales) and Diane (Molly Samson) met in Gander, fell in love, and eventually married. Hannah (Candace Alyssa Rhodes) was constantly checking on her son, who was a firefighter in New York and eventually died in the World Trade Center. These and the other personal stories in the musical brought the whole event to life, making us laugh, cheer, and cry. It was beautiful!
The music in COME FROM AWAY is a mix of folk, rock and Celtic influences, reflecting the characters’ diverse backgrounds and the Newfoundland setting. The score includes upbeat, energetic songs like “Welcome to the Rock” and soulful ballads like “Me and the Sky.” The music continually drives the narrative forward, capturing the emotional highs and lows of the characters’ experiences while celebrating their greatest acts of kindness and solidarity.
The musicianship of the cast of Come From Away is truly exceptional. They brought a unique energy and authenticity to the show. The cast’s tight harmonies, dynamic performances, and emotional delivery of the music not only underpinned the narrative, but also created a captivating and immersive experience. As a bonus, this was the first time I saw and heard the ugly stick. I didn’t even know it was real, but it was super cool, and I loved that the musicians came out and did a little jam session at the end of the show.
Next on the Robinson Center Stage, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Arkansas Repertory Theatre present HELLO, DOLLY, starring 2024 Tony Award nominee Amber Iman (LEMPICKA), Reggie D. White, Parris Lewis, Colin Carswell, Drama Desk nominee Denise Manning, Tyrese Shawn Avery, Bijoux and Frederick Webb. For more information, visit their website at https://www.littlerock.com/robinson-center.
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