page_title: Come from Away
section_title: Productions
hierarchical_section_title: Come from Away / History / Productions
caption_attribution_description: Come From Away on Broadway, January 22, 2017
context_page_description: Come from Away is a Canadian musical with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is set in the week following the September 11 attacks and tells the true story of what transpired when 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in the small town of Gander in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. The characters in the musical are based on real Gander residents as well as some of the 7,000 stranded travelers they housed and fed.
  The musical has been received by audiences and critics as a cathartic reminder of the capacity for human kindness in even the darkest of times and the triumph of humanity over hate.
  After being workshopped in 2012 and first produced at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, in 2013, it went on to have record-breaking runs at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, and the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015, at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in 2016.
context_section_description: The first professional production was a collaboration by the La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2015. The play had extended runs in each location. The musical opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in June 2015, directed by Christopher Ashley and featuring Joel Hatch as the Mayor of Gander, Jenn Colella as Beverley, a pilot, and Chad Kimball as Kevin. In Seattle, it broke all box office records (including highest grossing show and largest single ticket sales day) at Seattle Repertory Theatre.
  Following its runs in San Diego and Seattle, the show played out-of-town engagements at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., from September 2, 2016, to October 9, 2016, and then at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, from November 15, 2016, to January 8, 2017. The entire run of the Toronto production sold out during its second week of performances. The show's ticket sales set a record for the then 109-year-old Royal Alex Theatre, selling $1.7 million in tickets in a single week. The show could not be extended due to its Broadway commitment but, as a result of the strong demand, Mirvish Productions announced on December 2, 2016, that it was adding an additional four box seats and 12 standing-room locations for the duration of the show. An additional show was also added on the evening of December 18, 2016.
  The musical opened in previews on Broadway on February 18, 2017, and officially opened on March 12, 2017, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The show has been playing to standing-room-only audiences. Direction is by Christopher Ashley, choreography by Kelly Devine, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Gareth Owen, and music direction by Ian Eisendrath. The performance of March 15, 2017, on Broadway was attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (who addressed the audience before the show), other current and former Canadian federal politicians and provincial politicians from Newfoundland and Labrador, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Ivanka Trump. 
  As of March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show’s production will be suspended until January 3, 2021, at the earliest. 
  Another Canadian production opened in a sold-out, four-week run in Winnipeg at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in January 2018. The production began performances at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto on February 13, 2018. The production recouped its full capitalization in 14 weeks. Due to continued demand, the show transferred to the nearby Elgin Theatre on February 5, 2019, after ending its run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on January 20, 2019. During the hiatus, the cast performed eight benefit concerts  of the show at the Holy Heart Theatre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The net proceeds from the performances were donated to Gander, Gambo, Appleton, Lewisporte, Norris Arm, and Glenwood, the six towns that hosted the 7,000 travellers. In addition, the money also went to the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Community Food Sharing Association. According to David Mirvish, the production had to move to the Elgin Theatre in order to accommodate the Canadian production of Dear Evan Hansen, which was promised the Royal Alexandra Theatre. On July 3, 2019, following the announced closure of Canadian production of Dear Evan Hansen, it was announced that Come from Away will transfer back to the Royal Alexandra Theatre on December 13, 2019. The production will close at the Elgin Theatre on December 1, 2019, in order to facilitate the move.
  The musical started its North American tour of more than 50 cities in October 2018 at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
  The musical ran at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, from December 2018 to January 2019, before transferring to the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End from January 30, 2019, with a British cast.
  An Australian production opened at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne in July 2019. The Australian Company will tour Chi
caption: The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway during its run of Come from Away
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