Come From Away reminds us of our shared humanity

“To the coves and the caves and the people from the planes…. five days… 19 animals… and 7,000 strays!”

Most people of a certain age can vividly recall where they were and what they were doing when they learned on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, that the United States had been attacked. While many of us were getting ready for work or taking the kids to school, we witnessed how 19 terrorists hijacked four planes. Two of those planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, resulting in their collapse. A third plane struck the Pentagon, and a fourth – believed to be headed for either the White House or the Capitol – crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after a courageous passenger revolt. Thousands of innocent lives were lost that tragic day, and in the weeks, months and years that followed, many more suffered and perished as a result of the attacks.

There was also tremendous heroism on display during this tragic time – acts of selflessness, kindness and comfort offered to the lost, the weary and the grieving. One such story comes from the little-known Canadian town of Gander, which opened its humble arms to nearly 7,000 passengers and crew from the planes that were diverted there. This extraordinary true story has been transformed into one of the most powerful musicals I’ve ever seen, and an incredibly skillful, must-see production of it is currently running at The Legacy Theatre.

“When the sun is coming up, and the world comes ashore – if you’re looking for a harbor, then you’ll find an open door.”

Come From Away – book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein – tells the story of the residents of Gander, Newfoundland, and how they navigated the sudden near doubling of their population under heartbreaking circumstances. On Sept. 11, Gander was one of several key airports in Canada that took in international flights after U.S. airspace was closed. A total of 38 planes were diverted there as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. This remarkable but often overlooked chapter of 9/11 history lives on in a musical that will lift your spirits, move you deeply and remind you of what we can accomplish when we remember that we are more alike than different.

Director Ed MacMurdo expertly directed and choreographed a cast of 12 actors playing 145 parts, speaking in as many as a dozen accents.  The result is a complex and vibrant 100-minute production that drops you right into the tension from the very start.  

“The creators of the show did that intentionally,” said MacMurdo. “They wanted the audience to feel that same sense of urgency as everyone on the planes and in Gander were feeling.” 

“And you look around, and blink your eyes, and barely even recognize, the person in the mirror who’s turned into someone else.”

Minimal sets, props and quick costume changes of often just a hat or a jacket help establish the variety of characters that reoccur throughout the story. The entire talented ensemble – Betsy Buttell, Michael Clair, Greg Donathan, Broderick Elder, Wendy Hayward, Lori Ann McCabe, Samantha Mool, Antonio Muñoz, Kinsey Peotter, Squire Prince, Allison Stachera and Matthew Woodson – deserve praise for their seamless transitions and committed, diverse performances. 

Buttell, who plays one of the more standout characters in the show, the first female captain for American Airlines, Beverly Bass, said being in the show is “honoring the women in my family.” She has a personal connection to the storyline. 

“My mom, grandmother and an aunt all worked for American Airlines, and my grandmother’s chair is part of the set,” Buttell said.  Upon hearing the news on 9/11, she said, “I remember being in class and the teacher said, ‘This is important and we’re going to keep watching the news.’”

Fellow cast member Greg Donathan, who plays another real-life character, Nick Marson, said Come From Away is easily the best written piece of musical theater ever. 

“It even makes me tear up to say it,” Donathan said, “just how affirming it is to humankind. So much is lacking today, but there is hope.”

Vocal direction by Melissa Blankestyn, musical direction by Blake Martin and the exceptional orchestra, scenic design by Scott Richardson and lighting by Aimee Hanyzewski all successfully transport the audience from the planes, to Gander and back home again.

“Lead us out of the darkness.”  “Make me a channel of your peace.”

In today’s divided world, it’s easy to get caught up in all that seems wrong. This is one of those needed reminders of the good that still lives within and among us.  

This article appears in October 2-8, 2025.