Ready To See "Come From Away" In LA

Earning “Best Musical” winner all across North America, I was wowed in 2018, when I saw the uplifting musical "Come From Away" at the Ahmanson Theatre.

It's back for a short run, from June 1 to June 12, 2022 at the Ahmanson again. Looking at the program, I noticed many of the actors and musicians are back too. The talented musicians are onstage sitting on Beowulf Boritt's minimal tree trunk set, performing 15 moving and uplifting songs led by conductor Cameron Moncur. He also plays the keyboard, accordion, and harmonium.

Other versatile musicians include Isaac Anderson back onstage playing a whistle, Irish flute and Uilleann pipes and Kiana June Weber is back on the fiddle. Guitarist Billy Bivona plays a wicked electric and acoustic guitar and Martin Howley not only plays acoustic guitar, but also mandolins and bouzouki. Steve Holloway plays the Bodhran and percussion, while Ben Morrow is back playing drums and percussion.

What is remarkable about this musical is how these musicians and the cast are on stage for about 100 minutes without an intermission.

“Come From Away,” is an award-winning Broadway musical about the effects of September 11, 2001 in the small Canadian town of Gander. The book, music and lyrics are by Olivier, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winners and Grammy and two-time Tony Award nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The direction is by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley, and musical staging by two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine. Music supervision is by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath.

It's a story about when the airspace over the U.S. was immediately closed on September 11, and over 200 planes were ordered to land at the nearest airport, because each airplane was considered a bomb threat.

There were 38 airplanes that landed in Gander, Newfoundland and 7,000 displaced, weary and frightened passengers were held hostage on these planes until the FAA allowed them to disembark in Canada days after their landing.

The award winning book, music and lyrics of “Come From Away" by Irene Sankoff and David Hein was inspired by the bond of the selfless people in Gander comforting these strangers. They had to tell their story about cultures clashing and nerves running high. They enlighten the audience in how the uneasiness of the situation turns into trust, gratitude and beautiful friendships.

Hein grew up with Newfoundland music and felt the story should incorporate the island’s Irish, English and Cornish musical traditions. When Sankoff and Hein traveled to Gander during the 10th anniversary on September 2011, they learned the Canadians called the passengers “Come-From-Aways” (people from beyond the island), hence the title.

We learn in “38 Planes” and “Me and the Sky” that one of the jets to land in Gander was an American Airlines airplane en route from Paris to Dallas, Texas. The first female American Airlines Captain Beverley Bass (played by Marika Aubrey) bravely leads her captive crew and passengers inside the plane for 28 hours, and makes sure they arrive to Texas safely.

The town doubles in population during the five days that U.S. air space was closed. The 12 versatile actors not only sing and dance, but each play multiple characters seamlessly. They portray passengers on the airplanes, and then switch to the residents of Gander and nearby communities within seconds. At times it feels there are three times the number of actors onstage, because each character has a strong and distinctive personality.

The friendships that blossom include caring Beulah (Julie Johnson) and Hannah (Danielle K. Thomas), and Englishman Nick (Shamble Ferguson) and Texan Diane (Christine Toy Johnson).

James Earl Jones II is hysterical as Bob the New Yorker and a dashing Virgin Atlantic pilot. Other funny scenes were during the song “Costume Party” when passengers tried on clothing collected by the townspeople to refresh their smelly attire. Some had been in the same outfit for over 50 hours. Another enjoyable scene to watch was "Screech In" where four of the passengers survive a mild hazing to become Newfoundlanders.

From the first catchy song “Welcome to the Rock” to the last song "Something's Missing" the show honors what was lost in 9/11 and commemorates the friendships that were found.

Tickets for “Come From Away” are currently on sale and start at $40. They are available through CenterTheatreGroup.org, Audience Services at (213) 972-4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Offices (at the Ahmanson Theatre) at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012. Performances run Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.