Come From Away
Book, Music and Lyrics:
Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by: Loriann Schmidt
Performances: Sep. 11, 12, 13(m), 18, 19, 20(m), 25, 26, 27(m); Oct 1, 2, 3
Shows start at 7:30pm in the evenings, 2:30pm for matinees.
*(m) matinee performances
*(cc) Closed Captioning available by Cue Captions
Get Tickets
Discover life as an islander with the story of the 38 planes that were diverted to Gander on September 11, 2001.
Grab your seats now for Come From Away and
experience the magic of live theater.
About the Show
Come From Away is a heartfelt and uplifting musical inspired by the true events that unfolded after September 11, 2001, when thousands of airline passengers were unexpectedly stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. As residents open their homes and hearts to strangers from around the world, fear and uncertainty give way to compassion, humor, and lasting human connection. Filled with stirring music and remarkable true stories, the show celebrates kindness, resilience, and the extraordinary bonds that can form in the most unexpected moments.
Note: The language in Come From Away includes occasional strong words used in emotional or realistic contexts, reflecting the stress and urgency of the events surrounding September 11, 2001. The script is not heavily profane, but audiences can expect:
occasional use of words such as “damn,” “hell,” and stronger language including a few instances of the F-word
references to fear, terrorism, and the emotional aftermath of 9/11
some mature emotional themes and intense moments
Auditions
Open auditions for Come From Away will be held at Albany Civic Theater on Monday, June 8th and Tuesday, June 9th. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Auditions will begin promptly at 7 PM and end around 9:30 PM. Auditioners should plan to attend both Monday and Tuesday. Callbacks will be held by invitation-only on Wednesday, June 10th.
Plan to arrive early to fill out an audition form that will be provided at the theater. You are also welcome to download and print the form below, complete it in advance, and bring it with you. Please write clearly, especially your contact information. Headshots and resumes are not required, but always appreciated.
If early audition is needed, please contact the director, Loriann Schmidt, to make an arrangement. No video submissions will be accepted.
Bring a full list of your conflicts from June 15th-October 4th (including weekends and the important dates listed below). Rehearsals are generally Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30-9 PM. Please keep this in mind when providing your list of conflicts.
Important dates:
Take Stage: August 30 (12-6 PM)
Retreat: September 5 (10 AM-9 PM)
Set Strike: October 4 (9 AM-12 PM)
Tech week: September 6-10
Audition form: https://tinyurl.com/ComeFromAway-audition-form
What to prepare/expect:
Monday and Tuesday:
Auditions will consist of singing a piece no longer than 4 minutes; it must be from a musical. Please flesh out the piece with movement and acting choices. Actors will alternate with movement auditions. This is not a dance-heavy show, but the choreographer will be looking for the actor’s ability to learn movement, put emotion into that movement, and look cohesive as a group. We will see folks on a first-come basis, and we may not be able to see everyone on the first night, so auditioners should be prepared to attend both nights.
Please select a song that accurately represents your range and emotional capabilities. We prefer to hear something from 1990+, but golden-age musicals are acceptable. Bring a recording ready on a device for your accompaniment. The directing team feels strongly that the audition should be well-prepared and not how well you can work with a brand new accompanist. Bluetooth speakers will be provided. If you require assistance finding a good track for your audition piece, please contact the directing team. We can get you pointed in the right direction. Please wear/bring clothing/shoes that are comfortable to move in.
Wednesday:
Callbacks will be by invitation-only and may contain cold reads from the script and learning some measures from the score to check for actor chemistry and range.
Note on casting:
Come From Away’s rightsholder, MTI, has licensed this show to have a flexible casting. As an ensemble piece, there are many different ways we can cast this show. There are as many as 20 named roles with solo lines and as few as 12 cast all doubling roles. The Directing Staff will take your suggestion into consideration, but we are not committed to any cast configuration until after auditions are complete. We want to stay open to whatever possibilities may arise from the folks who audition. Only actors 18+ years of age will be considered.
Cast of Characters
Claude
The gregarious and well-liked Mayor of Gander, Newfoundland, Claude loves his work, the townspeople and his daily traditions, but he's never had to deal with a crisis of this magnitude before.
Bonnie
A no-nonsense mother of three, Bonnie is the head of the Gander area SPCA. When she discovers animals are trapped on the planes, she stops at nothing to ensure their safety - but in frustration, she often lashes out at those around her.
Beulah
The head of the Gander Legion, with a firefighter son, who walks Hannah to her church and prays with her.
Oz
The quirky constable in the two-person Gander police force. When the town's population suddenly doubles, Oz helps out in unexpected ways.
Janice
An eager new local TV reporter, Janice is thrown into the deep end on her first day. Initially naïve about the world, Janice must face the pain and confusion around her.
Beverly
The first female captain for American Airlines Pilot, Beverly Bass has always loved flying, when her world suddenly changes.
Annette
A schoolteacher at Gander Academy with an active fantasy life.
Diane
A traditional divorcee from Texas, who is terrified that her son may have been flying at the time of the attacks. When she finds out that he's safe, she's given a new lease on life and discovers a wilder more carefree side of herself.
Nick
An English oil engineer who is focused on his work, Nick's life is turned upside down when he falls for Diane.
Doug
An Air Traffic Controller, married to Bonnie, who tries to help his wife and the animals.
Kevin T
The head of an environmental energy company in Los Angeles, Kevin was on vacation with his boyfriend (and secretary, also named Kevin), when they are stranded in Gander. Inspired by the town's generosity, Kevin creates the Pay It Forward Foundation.
Garth
The head of the local union, representing the Bus Drivers.
Kevin J
Kevin's boyfriend and secretary. Sarcastic and unhappy, he wants to leave as soon as possible.
Ali
An Egyptian man traveling to America who experiences isolation and Islamophobia but who finds a connection to Beulah.
Hannah
The mother of a firefighter in Manhattan, Hannah waits for news about her son and is comforted by Beulah.
Bob
A hardened New Yorker, Bob is suspicious of where he's landed, fearing that it's World War 3, that someone is going to shoot him and steal his wallet - but instead, he ends up losing his New York jadedness.
Other Roles
Derm, Eddie, Martha, Delores, Joey, Customs Officer, Mr. Michaels, Terry, Matty, Rabbi, Head Cardiologist, Britney, Flight Attendant, Reporter, Crystal, Brenda, Officer Stephenson, President Bush, Dwight, Margie, Mickey, Muhumuza, Captain Bristol
2026 Dates:
Sep. 11, 12, 13(m), 18, 19, 20(m), 25, 26, 27(m);
Oct. 1, 2, 3, 2026
Shows start at 7:30pm in the evenings, 2:30pm for matinees.
*(m) matinee performances
*(cc) Closed Captioning available by Cue Captions
Performances
Loriann Schmidt has done theater all her life. Starting in 2nd grade with an appearance in The Music Man, the theater bug (and lighting bug) has always been with her. Her first light board was her own invention (in high school) made with rheostats and an old suitcase, a ton of soldering lead and a whiff of smoke. A long string of shows both professional and community as costume designer, light designer, stage manager, assistant director and director followed and the rest, they say, is history. Most recently, Loriann has directed shows at Pentacle, Keizer Homegrown Theatre and a private school in Beaverton. She serves on the board at Keizer Homegrown Theatre and has been active in other areas of Albany Civic Theatre as Lighting Manager, costume designer and all-around Helpful Person. She has previously directed The Great Gatsby, and Ride the Cyclone at ACT.
Loriann Schmidt, Director
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Yes! Our Box Office opens 45 minutes before each performance, and occasionally additional seats are made available last minute.
Thursday nights also offer Rush tickets for $5.00 when purchased in person! -
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Please see our Get Involved page above for more details, or reach out to our Volunteer Manager.