Come From Away
Director
Christopher Ashley
Writer
Music, Lyrics and Book by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Actors
Jenn Colella, Joel Hatch, Tony LePage, Caesar Samayoa, Astrid Van Wieren, Petrina Bromley, Jim Walton, Sharon Wheatley, Emily Walton, Q. Smith, De'Lon Grant, Paul Whitty
Runtime
1 h 47 min
Release Date
10 September 2021
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Overview
7,000 passengers are stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland after all flights into the US are grounded on September 11, 2001. Filmed live on stage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York City.
  • Rating

COME FROM AWAY

Come From Away, a Broadway musical is one of the rare joyful remembrances of 9/11.  The heartache and confusion of that day are present in Come From Away. But the all-inclusive generosity and respect of people that come together and help each other is the emotion you take away.  Come From Away is a true event that happened in the days following 9/11.

Immediately after 9/11, the United States stopped all planes from entering the U.S. air space. Over forty wide-bodied planes with close to seven thousand international passengers were diverted to a large but little used airport located in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada.  I tear up just writing this, remembering the generosity people are capable of (well, at least Canadian people).

Image from the movie "Come From Away"

© 2021 The Mark Gordon Company − All right reserved.

This number of passengers overwhelms the city so the people of Gander volunteer to house and feed the passengers.  Watching the passengers process what is happening to them – both the good and the bad events – plus the quirky and wonderful people of Gander make this musical a worthwhile watch.

Beverly Bass, the first woman Captain of an American Airlines commercial flight, is a key figure in Come From Way.  Click on this link to watch an excellent summary of the Gander event from the real Beverly Bass (at least watch the first 10-minutes).

A diverse group of ordinary-looking people makes up the skilled Broadway cast.  Each cast member plays at least two characters.  Cast members seamlessly switch from a Canadian Newfoundlander to an international airline passenger, or to one in the flight crew.  All voices are outstanding, and most members have a solo song for their character.  Jenn Colella, as Captain Beverly Bass of American Airlines Flight 49, sings the show-stopping “Me and the Sky” a solo about her life-long desire to fly and what 9/11 means to her.  Ms. Colella was nominated in 2017 for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her Broadway performance in Come From Away.

Come From Away musical

Jenn Colella as Captain Beverly Bass © 2021 The Mark Gordon Company − All right reserved.

Come From Away has constant movement and fun, and switches between a variety of topics all respectively approached.  Addressed in a touching and uplifting manner are the New York City Firefighters, racial tensions, same-sex relationships, Islam, and Judaism.

Come From Away, a Broadway musical is a worthwhile and entertaining watch that will make you feel good.

Movie Details

Director
Christopher Ashley
Writer
Music, Lyrics and Book by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Actors
Jenn Colella, Joel Hatch, Tony LePage, Caesar Samayoa, Astrid Van Wieren, Petrina Bromley, Jim Walton, Sharon Wheatley, Emily Walton, Q. Smith, De'Lon Grant, Paul Whitty
Runtime
1 h 47 min
Release Date
10 September 2021
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Overview
7,000 passengers are stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland after all flights into the US are grounded on September 11, 2001. Filmed live on stage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York City.

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