Come From Away

Back Where It All Began

At the Royal Alexandra Theatre this fall, don't miss Irene Sankoff and David Hein's Come From Away as it makes a welcome return to Toronto, where it first debuted in 2016. Now an international hit that has enjoyed success on Broadway, and in London, Dublin, and Australia, this inspirational ode to the human spirit changed musical theatre forever. With a folksy, sung-through score that details the true events of one small Newfoundland town on the morning of 9/11, it is a show full of heart that sticks with you long after you leave the auditorium.

What is the story?

On September 11th 2001, as the full horror of the World Trade Center attack became apparent, the US closed its airspace, grounding thousands of passenger jets heading in, out, and throughout of North America. An astonishing 38 of them were forced to land in Gander, a remote Newfoundland town with a population of just 9,000 people. The arrival of the passengers boosted those numbers to nearly 20,000.

Come From Away focuses on a single set of passengers from one flight and the Gander residents who welcomed them into their homes. Amongst this diverse set of characters is American Airlines' first female pilot, a gay couple both called Kevin, and an Egyptian chef, whose initial apprehensions about the reception he will receive proves unfounded. Weaving together all of their storylines, the show creates an affirming portrait of human connection in the most trying of circumstances.

Did you know?

The musical gets its title from Newfoundland slang. The people of Gander refer to the passengers as "come from aways".