Festival Hall play tells a story of compassion around 9/11
Lake Country Players will present the musical Come from Away at Greensboro’s historic Festival Hall Nov. 4-8, and again Nov. 12-14, with tickets available now at lakecountryplayers.org.
Come From Away presents the true story of events on Sept. 11, 2001, in Gander, a city of less than 10,000 people in Newfoundland on Canada’s remote east coast. Thirty-eight airliners carrying approximately 6,700 passengers were ordered to land at Gander International Airport following the infamous terrorist attacks that day in New York City.
The book, music, and lyrics of Come From Away were written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein after originally conceived by Toronto lawyer Michael Rubinoff.
Come from Away opened March 17, 2017, on Broadway and became an immediate box-office success. Just a few months later, the musical play received seven Tony nominations and won Best Direction of a Musical for director Christopher Ashley.
The Broadway production closed Oct. 2, 2022, after 1,669 performances, but went on to great success in several countries including 1,048 performances in the West End in London.
Gander is a small town that took in stranded passengers and animals without a second thought. The people there had no warning, but never once said no to the thousands of stranded passengers suddenly and unexpectedly needing food, shelter, comfort, and safety.
Residents there opened their homes, schools, businesses, and cupboards to take in thousands of stranded passengers as well as 19 animals – pets and two endangered bonobos (apes) – trapped in cargo holds for two days without care. Local animal shelter director Bonnie Harris fought for access to the planes, rescued the animals, and alongside two other volunteers, spent days feeding, comforting, and caring for them.
One rescued puppy, Ralph, later became an American show champion and the generosity continued long after all had returned home. It was this incredible story that brought to life Broadway’s Come From Away.
Come From Away at Festival Hall is directed and choreographed by Michael Blackmon-Ham. The Lake Country Players cast includes Debbie McCown, Sha’Kecia Mitchell, Coley Gilchrist, Kim Fleming, Maureen Brower, Beth Mappes, Parke Kallenberg, Cole Miller, Alex Wilson, Derrick Roney, Dracey Langford, Art Schutt, Donna Valvo, Rusty Faulk, Dottie Mitchell, and Idan Chandler.
Tickets are $32.50 each and available exclusively through lakecountryplayers. org. To avoid scams, do not purchase tickets from any other site. Additionally, charcuterie packs are available for preorder at chef-brent.square.site.
— Contributed