Paper Mill Playhouse Begins Rehearsals for Reimagined 'Come From Away'

Press release

www.papermill.org

MILLBURN, NJ – JANUARY 13, 2026 – Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Executive Director), recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, began rehearsals this week for Come From Away, the next production in Paper Mill’s 2025-2026 season. Come From Away begins performances on Wednesday, February 4 ahead of a Sunday, February 8 opening night at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ).

Kevin Tuerff, the real “Kevin T.”, made a guest appearance to meet the cast and speak about his experiences as a “Plane Person” diverted to Gander on September 11, 2001.

This reimagined production of Come From Away, where actors will be playing instruments live onstage, is directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds. The cast will feature Jeannette Bayardelle (Girl from the North Country, & Juliet) as Beverley/Annette, Andréa Burns (The Notebook, In the Heights) as Diane, John El-Jor (We Live In Cairo) as Kevin J./Ali, Nick Gaswirth (Ragtime) as Oz, Lisa Howard (It Shoulda Been You, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Beulah, Lisa Helmi Johanson (POTUS) as Janice, Kent M. Lewis (Billy Elliot US Tour) as Nick/Doug, James Moye (Bull Durham, Tootsie) as Claude, Jason Tyler Smith (Come From Away US Tour) as Bob, David Socolar (Company US Tour) as Kevin T./Garth, Erica Spyres (Carousel) as Bonnie, and Rema Webb (Unmasked, The Music Man) as Hannah. Understudies include Molly Coyne, Travis Darghali, Brandi Knox, and Matthew Whennell-Clark.

On September 11, 2001, the world stopped. On September 12, a small Newfoundland town started bringing people together. Come From Away tells the true story of 7,000 stranded airplane passengers welcomed by a community that turned fear into friendship and strangers into family. Filled with heart, humor, and a spirited score, this Tony-winning musical with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein is “a celebration of the best of humankind” (The Daily Beast).

The creative team for Come From Away includes Sam Groisser (Music Direction), Nate Bertone (Scenic Design), Michelle J. Li (Costume Design), Paige Seber (Lighting Design), Emilia Martin (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design), and Kevin Heard (Sound Design). Patricia L. Grabb is the Production Stage Manager. Casting is by ARC.

During the run of Come From Away, Paper Mill Playhouse will host a series of special discussions connected to the production:

• Saturday, February 7 (after the 1:30 PM performance): There will be a post-show Q&A with the real individuals whose stories inspired the show. The conversation will be led by Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee and Matthew Mingle, Vice President of Pay It Forward 9/11.
• Saturday, February 21 (after the 1:30 PM performance): There will be a post-show Q&A with the cast.
• Wednesday, February 25 (after a special student matinee performance): There will be a post-show Q&A with the cast for the student audience.

Arline and Jim Cox are the Marquee Sponsors for Come From Away. The GenWealth Group is the Opening Night Sponsor of the 2025–2026 season. Paper Mill Playhouse's accessibility programs are generously supported by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Fund for the New Jersey Blind and the Michael J. Kosloski Foundation. Major funding for Autism-friendly programs is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Karma Foundation and Orange Orphan Society. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill’s Education & Outreach Partner.

Subscriptions for Paper Mill’s 2025-2026 season and individual tickets to Come From Away are on sale now at www.PaperMill.org, by calling (973) 376-4343, or at the Millburn box office.

AUDIENCE ENRICHMENT
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES are scheduled for Saturday, February 28 at 1:30pm and Sunday, March 1 at 1:30pm.
OPEN-CAPTIONED & ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES are scheduled for Saturday, February 28 at 1:30pm and Sunday, March 1 at 7:00pm.

This production of Come From Away is licensed by Music Theatre International.

Following Come From Away, Paper Mill’s 2025-2026 season concludes with 1776 and West Side Story