By Lee Davies

Discover the Remarkable True Story of Kindness, Community, and Hope

Remarkable – and entirely intentional – the Opening Night of Sharon Playhouse’s next Mainstage production of Come From Away coincides with the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Come From Away – the award-winning musical debuting for the first time ever at the Sharon Playhouse – is the remarkable true story of 38 planes carrying approximately 7,000 passengers that were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander, Newfoundland International Airport on September 11, 2001—and the community that welcomed them with open arms. With its driving Celtic-folk score by Irene Sankoff and David Hein featuring songs like “Welcome to the Rock,” “Me and the Sky,” and “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere,” this Tony Award–winning musical (Best Direction of a Musical, Christopher Ashley) celebrates the extraordinary kindness, generosity, and humanity that emerge in the most unexpected moments.

This production will be directed by the esteemed director (and Tony Award nominated actor) Hunter Foster. Hunter returns to the Sharon Playhouse for the third time, after helming Rock of Ages (2024) and The Mousetrap (2025). Hunter is currently directing City of Angels at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine.

Told with humor, heart, and astonishing emotional impact, Come From Away weaves together real stories of compassion and connection from both the stranded “come-from-aways” and the locals who took them in. Bursting with music, movement, and uplifting spirit, this modern masterpiece reminds us that even in our darkest hours, the best of the American—and human—spirit shines through when communities come together.

This 100-minute, one-act musical features characters based on actual Gander residents and the stranded travelers they housed and fed.

After a successful pre-Broadway run, Come From Away opened on Broadway on March 12, 2017, and became a critical and box office success. The Broadway production played for 1,669 regular performances. After its award-winning Broadway run, Come From Away transferred to London’s West End, where it picked up three Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

Come From Away had previously been produced by Goodspeed Musicals in their workshop program.

Hunter Foster’s journey from acting to directing is equally interesting. As Hunter has noted: “Lonny Price (another actor who turned to directing) was supposed to direct a production of Summer of '42 at Bucks County Playhouse. Lonny had to drop out to work on his documentary on Merrily We Roll Along, and he called me and said, ‘Maybe you should do it.’ I wasn’t sure it that was something I wanted to do. And then Jed Bernstein, who was the producer, said, ‘I think you should try it.’ So, I did and I really enjoyed it. I did another show for Bucks County, and I started pitching other shows to people, and it started snowballing. I've been doing it ever since. I didn’t realize that was what I wanted to do, but the more I started doing it, I realized I really enjoy the creative process, being in the room, and figuring shows out.”

The Come From Away cast features Chelsie Nectow as “Beverly/Annette & Others,” Max Bennett-Parker as “Claude” & Others,” Meagan Lewis-Michelson as “Beulah & Others,” Erin Lindsey Krom as “Diane & Others,” Tracy Liz Miller as “Bonnie & Others,” Jeffrey Konowitch as “Oz & Others,” Willie Marte as “Bob & Others,” Cameron Sirian as “Kevin J./Ali & Others,” Ricky Oliver as “Kevin T./Garth & Others,” Sophie Nassiri as “Janice & Others,” Michael F. McGuirk as “Nick & Others,” and Cherish Love as “Hannah & Others.”

The Sharon Playhouse production of Come From Away is produced by Gigi Noyes and associate produced by Questus. It is a must-see for theater lovers and first-timers alike. It plays the Bobbie Olsen Theater, September 11-27. You will be inspired and uplifted!

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