Irene Sankoff

Irene Sankoff is a Canadian writer, composer, and lyricist best known as the co-creator of the internationally acclaimed musical Come From Away. Alongside her writing partner and husband, David Hein, Sankoff has earned widespread recognition for her ability to craft emotionally resonant, character-driven stories inspired by real-life events. Her work is celebrated for its sensitivity, humor, and melodic richness, as well as its ability to find hope and humanity in times of crisis.

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Sankoff studied psychology and creative writing at York University before moving to New York City with Hein in 1999. While in New York, she pursued graduate studies in acting at the prestigious Actors Studio Drama School. The couple lived in Manhattan during the events of 9/11, an experience that would later deeply inform the themes of Come From Away. After returning to Canada, Sankoff and Hein began to collaborate on theatrical projects that fused music, personal storytelling, and contemporary themes.

Their first major success came with My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, a heartfelt and humorous musical based on Hein’s mother’s true story. Originally produced at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2009, the show quickly gained traction and was picked up by Mirvish Productions for a larger run, introducing Sankoff and Hein to a national audience and establishing their reputation as original and emotionally honest storytellers.

The couple’s breakthrough came with Come From Away, a musical that tells the true story of the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, which welcomed over 7,000 stranded airline passengers after the closure of U.S. airspace on September 11, 2001. Sankoff and Hein conducted extensive interviews with Gander residents and “come from aways” during the town’s 10-year commemoration of 9/11. The resulting musical premiered in 2013 and went on to become a global phenomenon, with productions in Toronto, Broadway, London’s West End, and beyond. The show earned multiple awards and nominations, including a Tony Award nomination for Best Score and an Olivier Award win for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

Irene Sankoff continues to be a powerful voice in contemporary musical theatre. Her work is marked by compassion, musicality, and an unflinching belief in the resilience of the human spirit. Through her collaborations with David Hein, she has helped redefine modern musicals by elevating true stories into deeply moving theatrical experiences that resonate with audiences around the world.