Overview
Synopsis
Come From Away chronicles the real-life experiences of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and the almost 7000 airline passengers who were forced to land there when US air space was closed on September 11, 2001. Twelve actors tell the story of both the Islanders and the Plane People, revealing the fear and uncertainty that came with the terrorist attacks – as well as the profound generosity and compassion of strangers. While some characters and stories are an amalgamation of several people and experiences, others are grounded in true people, such as Captain Beverly Bass, the first female captain for American Airlines; Kevin Tuerff and Kevin Jung, the couple from LA; and Nick and Diane, the couple who met in Gander.
The music of Come From Away blends both traditional musical theatre styles (“Me and the Sky” / “Stop the World”) as well as traditional Newfoundland orchestrations (“Heave Away” / “Screech In”). The Islanders are distinguished from the Plane People by their use of a Newfoundland dialect, which they point out in “Welcome to the Rock.” Along with acting out the events of the four days, characters step out from the story to narrate the events. Staging is minimal, making use of only a few tables and twelve chairs to be the airplanes, the buses, and the various locations within Gander.
The creators of Come From Away have stated that this is not a September 11th story, it is rather a September 12th story - a story of the best people have to offer each other, and a reminder that we are all capable of doing good for each other, especially in the darkest of times.
Show Information
Context
Come From Away was first conceived in Toronto, Canada by producer and lawyer Michael Rubinoff. As associate dean of the musical theater performance program at Sheridan College, Rubinoff sought out Irene Sankoff and David Hein to write the music, book, and lyrics, and along with director Brian Hill, created the first iteration of the show as part of the Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan. After a successful workshop, the show was then developed to a full production within Sheridan’s
to read the context for Come From Away and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The show opens on the morning of September 11th, 2001, in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, as the town residents wake up to a new day. They introduce themselves and their small town but are interrupted by news of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania (“Welcome to the Rock”). With this news comes information that the US airspace has closed, rerouting 38 planes to their now empty international airport (“38 Planes”). With over 7000 passengers and 19 animals on their way,
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Showing 8 of 15 characters
Interactive Character Map
Visualize how the characters in Come From Away connect and drive the story.
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
Showing 8 of 22 songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Community and Radical Hospitality
The central pillar of Come From Away is the concept of "radical hospitality"—the idea of opening one’s home and heart to total strangers without hesitation. This theme is explored through the selfless actions of the Gander residents who work around the clock to provide food, shelter, and clothing for 7,000 "plane people." The analysis centers on how a crisis can strip away societal layers, leaving only the basic human instinct to care for one
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Come From Away and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A genre that dramatizes real-life events using interviews, transcripts, and factual materials.
A historical event that has inspired numerous dramatic works exploring grief, politics, and national identity.
A form of documentary theatre that uses exact words from interviews and transcripts to portray real-life events on stage.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress
Mychele Lebrun
Canadian music theatre artist currently based in London, England.