9/11 Musical 'Come From Away' Begins Broadway Performances This February

A new musical based on a story of stranded airplane passengers during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States is set to open on Broadway in early 2017. Come From Away, starring Chad Kimball, Jenn Colella, Petrina Bromley, Geno Carr and Joel Hatch, will have its premiere in March with preceding February previews at a yet-to-be-announced Shubert theater.

The dramatization based on the harrowing national tragedy that took nearly 3,000 lives in New York that fateful day previously played at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse. Come From Away will also stage performances at Washington D.C.'s Ford's Theatre later this fall and Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre from November through January.

The musical takes its narrative from the true tale of thousands of airplane passengers that were grounded in the small hamlet of Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11. As the United States closed airspace following the coordinated terrorist attacks, airlines were forced to land their flights at the closest available airports.

Broadway.com reported on the musical's leading creative team and the impact of those grounded 9/11 flights in Gander that day:

"With a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away will be directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Kelly Devine. In a heartbeat, 38 planes and 6,579 passengers were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, doubling the population of one small town on the edge of the world."

The musical will also make a quasi-homecoming showing in Gander itself. As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the benefit showings will take place on October 29 at the town's hockey arena. Gander mayor Claude Elliott spoke of the event in a statement to the Union-Tribune:

"As a community, we are excited that the people of Gander and surrounding areas will be able to see a production that showcases how the power of love and human decency, even in the midst of darkness, can bring light and restore our faith in mankind. We are very thankful to everyone who worked on this production to bring it to fruition," Elliott said.

We want to hear from you. Let us know where you were on 9/11 in the comments section below.

TagsCome From Away, September 11 attacks, Irene Sankoff, David Hein, Christopher Ashley, Kelly Devine, Chad Kimball, Jenn Colella, Petrina Bromley, Geno Carr, Joel Hatch, Claude Elliott