On September 11, 2001 while the World Trade Centre and Pentagon were being hit by hijacked planes, Gander, Nfld., became the landing point for 38 loaded jetliners diverted from their U.S. destinations when airports were suddenly shut down.
That Newfoundland town and the warm reception it gave to 7,000 stranded travelers during the week following the terrorist attacks inspired the Broadway musical Come From Away - coming to Prince George on Tuesday, Oct. 1 for a one-night-only engagement on the CN Centre stage.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. and based on its worldwide popularity with audiences a sold-out show is expected. Tickets will be sold through the Tickets North website.
Come From Away is based on the book, music and lyrics written by Tony award nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The play was originally developed at the Canadian Music Theatre at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont.
The travelling show earns five-star ratings and continually tops North American charts as a best musical award winner.
The original Broadway cast sound recording was nominated for a Grammy award.
Come From Away was nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2017, including best musical, best original score, best book of a musical, best featured actress (Jenn Colella) and won for beat direction of a musical (Christopher Ashley).
Its Broadway run went from March 2017-October 2022 and delivered more than 1,600 performances.
In his review, New York Times chief theatre critic Ben Brantley said: “Try, if you must, to resist the gale of good will that blows out of Come From Away, the big bearhug of a musical”, though it “starts off in a grating key of deep earnestness” and there are “moments that feel a little too heartwarming.
“Even the most stalwart cynics may have trouble staying dry-eyed during this portrait of heroic hospitality under extraordinary pressure.”
Newsweek critic Joe Westerfield wrote: “Come From Away' accomplishes what all the best musicals do: It takes you to a place where you didn't know you wanted to go, and makes you not want to leave.”
