Come From Away announces final Australian cast as West End production leads Olivier Awards Nominations

Come From Away Final Cast Announcement March 2019The critically acclaimed musical Come From Away has announced its final three cast members ahead of the Australian premiere at the newly refurbished Comedy Theatre, Melbourne in July, just as the West End production receives nine Olivier Award nominations (tying with a revamped version of Stephen Sondheim’s Company).

Sharriese Hamilton, Doug Hansell and Kolby Kindle join previously announced cast members Nicholas Brown, Nathan Carter, Zoe Gertz, Simon Maiden, Laura Murphy, Richard Piper, Emma Powell, Katrina Retallick and Kellie Rode, together with Glen Hogstrom, Angela Kennedy, Kathleen Moore, Jensen Overend, Ash Roussety and Alana Tranter.

A Chicago musical theatre stalwart, Sharriese Hamilton (Wonderful Town at Goodman Theatre, How To Succeed and Pal Joey at Porchlight Music Theatre, Chicago Fire for NBC, Empire for FOX) will play Hannah (and others).

Australian, Doug Hansell will return home after five years working in the UK (Titanic at Charing Cross Theatre, Thirty-Three at Leicester Square Theatre, A Doll’s House at Sport of Jove, The Wharf Review at STC) will play Kevin T (and others).

Native New Yorker Kolby Kindle (North American tours of The Book Of Mormon, Beauty And The Beast and Waitress, Chess and Jesus Christ Superstar at Lyric Theatre Oklahoma) will play Bob (and others).

A global success story, Come From Away opened on Broadway to rave reviews in 2017 and has continued its record breaking triumph with a second production in Toronto, a third production touring North America and a West End production that has just been nominated for nine Olivier Awards.

The nominations include: Best New Musical; Best Director – Christopher Ashley; Best Theatre Choreographer – Kelly Devine; Best Lighting Design – Howard Binkley; Best Sound Design – Gareth Owen; Outstanding Achievement in Music – Book, Music and Lyrics: David Hein and Irene Sankoff; Music Supervisor, Arrangements: Ian Eisendrath; Orchestrations: August Eriksmoen; Musical Directly/UK Music Supervisor: Alan Berry; and the band of Come From Away plus Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Clive Carter (Claude Elliott), Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Robert Hands (Nick Marson) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Rachel Tucker (Beverley Bass). The Olivier Awards will be announced on 7 April 2019.

Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 air passengers who became stranded in Gander, Newfoundland in Canada in the wake of September 11. The inconceivable generosity and hospitality offered to them by the residents of the tiny town was turned into a joyous and uplifting musical by husband and wife duo David Hein and Irene Sankoff.

The much-anticipated Australian premiere of Come From Away opens at the newly refurbished Comedy Theatre in Melbourne on Saturday 20 July 2019. For more information, visit: www.comefromaway.com.au for details.

Image: Kolby Kindle, Sharriese Hamilton and Doug Hansell to feature in Come From Away (supplied)