Come From Away is going home to Gander. A new, non-replica production of the Tony-nominated musical will play Gander Arts and Culture Centre beginning July 7, 2023, with opening night set for July 22. The run will continue through September 3.
Helming the re-imagined production will be Newfoundlander and former Arts and Culture Centre English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley.
“Bringing a full-length Come From Away production to Gander is, quite simply, a dream come true," says Netfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey. "Since its inception, this musical has connected people from all around the world to our people and province; now the musical will bring people from all around the world to Newfoundland and Labrador. I extend my sincere appreciation to Irene Sankoff and David Hein for their desire to make this a reality for the people of Gander, surrounding communities and, indeed, the entire province.”
The musical, with music, lyrics, and a book by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, opened on Broadway March 12, 2017, going on to receive seven 2017 Tony nominations including Best Musical. The work, which played its final Broadway performance in October, tells the true story of 7,000 air passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A Critics’ Choice Award-nominated live filmed version of the Broadway production, captured during the COVID-19 shutdown, streams globally on Apple TV+.
The upcoming Gander run will be the musical's first full staging in its "hometown," though a pre-Broadway concert presentation was given at Gander's Steele Community Center in 2016.
