Original Broadway cast members of Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s Come From Away have joined the company for director and Newfoundlander Jillian Keiley's new production of the Tony nominated musical. Running July 7-September 3 at the Joseph R Smallwood Arts & Culture Centre in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, the production will open July 22.
Starring will be Broadway's Petrina Bromley as Beverley & Others and Astrid Van Wieren as Diane & Others with Clint Butler, Kate Etienne, and Stuart Hickey joining from the Toronto, North American tour, and West End companies (respectively) of the musical. They will share the stage with Newfoundland and Labradorians Ryan Alexander, Jacquelyn French, Peter Halley, Shelley Neville, Tim Matson, and Alison Woolridge. Completing the cast will be Tyler Belo (Hamilton national tour's Angelica company), Maiesha McQueen (Waitress), Michael Torontow, and Bridget Bezanson.
The band will led by musical director Jonathan Monro with Jason Field on guitar, Darren Browne on guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki, Frank Fusari on bass, Greg Hawco on bodhrán and percussion, Romano DiNillo on drums and percussion, and Ben Power on whistle, Irish flute, and uilleann pipes. DiNillo and Power served as original Broadway band members while Hawco played in the Toronto company. Evan Smith will serve as associate musical director. Additional cast and band members will be announced at a later date.
Rounding out the creative team will be choreographer Marc Kimelman, music supervisor Bob Foster, scenic designer Shawn Kerwin, costume designer Marie Sharpe, lighting designer Leigh Ann Vardy, sound designer Don Ellis, production manager Craig Putt, technical director Karl Simmons, and associate director Allison Kelly. Casting is by Dayton/Walters Casting.
Producer Michael Rubinoff said, “It has been a dream from the beginning to create a production of Come From Away in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Come From Away tells the true story of 7,000 air passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The ensemble cast take on a variety of roles, from travelers to locals to airline personnel in the Tony-nominated musical.
Featuring a book, music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, Come From Away began on Broadway February 18, 2017 and opened March 12, 2017. It closed its run at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre October 2, 2022. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards, and Christopher Ashley won for Best Direction of a Musical.
Come From Away is produced by The Arts and Culture Centres of Newfoundland and Labrador, Aiden Flynn Director and Michael Rubinoff. Renée Strasfeld serves as associate producer. Original Broadway production produced by Junkyard Dog Productions. It is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Visit ArtsAndCultureCentre.com.
