West End production announced for Come From Away

SR Come From Away - photo by Chris BennionOne of the biggest hits on Broadway, Come From Away continues its extraordinary success story ahead of its Australian premiere at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in July 2019, with the announcement of UK and Irish premieres, a major extension of its Canadian production, and continuous standing room only houses on Broadway.

The remarkable true story of the small town that welcomed the world, the Tony award-winning musical’s universal themes of hope and humanity have captured the hearts of audiences on Broadway, across the USA and Canada. A Best Musical winner all across North America, Come From Away won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Christopher Ashley) alongside 30 other major awards.

Now it’s time for British, Irish and Australian audiences to be blown away by this ground-breaking hit. The West End production will play at the Phoenix Theatre, London from 30 January 2019, with a pre-West End engagement at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin from 6 December 2018 to 19 January 2019.

Fifteen months after it opened on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Come From Away continues to be a box office sensation, playing to standing room only houses, and continuously topping the weekly capacity lists at over 100%, alongside The Book of Mormon and Hamilton.

The Canadian production this month announced an extension of its 48 week record breaking season in Toronto for an open ended season, due to its incredible run of sold out shows. A 60-city North American Tour will launch in October in Seattle, and a feature film adaptation is in the works.

Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded air passengers during the wake of 9/11, and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed, and nerves ran high, but as uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

Native Newfoundlanders refer to those not born on the island as “Come From Aways”. The travellers who landed in Newfoundland on diverted planes on September 11, 2001 were said to have “Come From Away”.

Come From Away features a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and is directed by Christopher Ashley, with musical staging by Kelly Devine, music supervision and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Gareth Owen.

Broadway creatives and producers have just concluded an exciting month of auditions across Australia, with the cast to be announced in due course. “We have just completed the final casting process with the members of the Broadway team who were overwhelmed with the extraordinary depth of talent that our country offers,” said producer Rodney Rigby.

“They are eager to put together the Australian production, which will be the fifth production of Come From Away playing around the world when we open in Melbourne.”

“One of the biggest hits on Broadway. An unforgettably moving story of the power of friendship and the human spirit.” – CBS

Come From Away plays at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 2019. For more information, visit: www.comefromaway.com.au for details.

Image: Come From Away – photo by Chris Bennion