The inspiring musical, “Come from Away,” has come back to St. Louis in a brilliant production by Stages St. Louis.
The show is a remarkable story of resilience and human decency arising from the closing of United States airspace after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Thirty-eight commercial flights from Europe were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. The city of about 10,000 suddenly had to deal with the arrival of approximately 7,000 passengers and crewmembers who had “come from away.” They had to be housed and fed until the planes were cleared to continue their journeys, whenever that might be. The people of Gander rose the occasion with astonishing compassion and fortitude.
The show is based on stories collected at a reunion marking the tenth anniversary of the events in Gander. Some of the characters are composites with the first name of one real person and the last name of another.
The book, music, and lyrics are by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, a husband-and-wife team from Canada. The fluid transitions between narration and dialogue advance the story with speed, clarity, and impact. The rousing score reflects the Celtic influence on Newfoundland, which has been called the most Irish place in the world outside of Ireland.
Ann Beyersdorfer’s scenic design is a major achievement, providing the required flexibility without sacrificing specificity. The set is a gathering place with tables and chairs in front of a slightly elevated platform with a bar on one side and the musicians on the other (see photo). Music director Jacob Carll conducts the fine band from behind the bar.
Changing to a new scene requires nothing more than moving the tables and chairs, making small adjustments to Catherine Lovejoy’s versatile costumes, and redirecting Sean M. Savoie’s alert lighting. My surmise at the end of the show was that the set is where characters have gathered for their tenth anniversary reunion. Max Silverman’s sound design and Lauren Alessa Roth’s dialect coaching give the show a convincing soundscape.
The excellent actors form a cohesive ensemble under Kyli Rae’s exuberant musical staging and Michael Bello’s propulsive direction. The cast members transition among dozens of roles without showing effort or creating confusion. In alphabetical order, the stellar performers include:
- Leah Berry as Bonnie and others
- Amy Blake as Diane and others
- Patrick Blindauer as Oz and others
- Nikita Burshteyn as Kevin T. and others
- Rheaume Crenshaw as Hannah and others
- Albert Jennings as Kevin J. and others
- Antonio King as Bob and others
- Jamie Laverdiere as Nick and others
- Cara Palombo as Janice and others
- Kilty Reidy as Claude and others
- Zoe Vonder Haar as Beulah and others
- Alena Watters as Beverley and others
The members of the teen ensemble are Caihya Fisk, Amelia Geneux-Ericson, Alexander Gow, and Gavin Nobbe. The standbys are John Harmon Cooper, Addison Garner, Reagan Pender, and Nia Simone Smith.
“Come from Away” continues through October 18, 2026, at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 210East Monroe Avenue.
—Gerry Kowarsky
Photo © Phillip Hamer Photography
The set and company of “Come from Away”
