Courtesy of OPAS
COLLEGE STATION, TX: On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.
OPAS is thrilled to announce the national tour of COME FROM AWAY, a Broadway musical about the true story of the small town that welcomed the world, will be in Texas A&M University’s Rudder Auditorium on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 25 and 26, 2024 (7:30 PM). Tickets range from $33-$123 are on sale now at MSC Box Office (979-845-1234 • www.OPAStickets.org).
COME FROM AWAY tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
OPAS Executive Director Anne Black states, “This musical inspires with its story of everyday people coming together to help strangers from all over the world. The citizens of Gander, Newfoundland, welcomed thousands of people stranded in their tiny Canadian town during a tumultuous time in our history.” Black continues, “During the run of this important piece of theater, we wanted to create an opportunity for our community to ‘pay it forward’ in its’ own way. That’s why we are thrilled to partner with local non-profit All Heart Incorporated for its Teacher Closet Initiative.”
ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
All Heart Incorporated is a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating more unified communities through local events, initiatives and relationships that empower positive change. For the upcoming run of COME FROM AWAY in Rudder Auditorium, patrons are encouraged to bring donations for the organization’s Teacher Closet Initiative. There will be a table in the Rudder lobby for patrons to submit their donations. Patrons will also receive giving information at the performances if they prefer to make a monetary gift to help the initiative.
All Heart Incorporated Chief Executive Officer Fabi Payton states, “This partnership is exactly why we started All Heart. We are thrilled to be working with OPAS to encourage our community to “pay it forward” for our wonderful teaching community during these much-anticipated performances. It’s a wonderful ‘win win’ for our community.”
Examples of items requested by local teachers include permanent markers, highlighters, pencils, glue sticks, scissors, rulers, clipboards, binder clips (all sizes), composition notebooks, spiral notebooks, dry erase markers, sticky notes, pencil top erasers, pink erasers, tape (packing, duct tape, Scotch), glue guns, glue sticks for glue gun, staplers, staples, push pins, paper clips, white boards, white board erasers, tape dispensers and three whole punches.
ABOUT COME FROM AWAY
Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times called the show “An affecting, stirring and unpretentious new musical. Christopher Ashley’s production lets the simple goodness of ordinary people outshine sensational evil,” and Bob Verini of Variety raved, “Superb! Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein have forged a moving, thoroughly entertaining tribute to international amity and the indomitable human spirit.”
A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical has won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London) including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical,” 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical,” 4 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (North American Tour) including “Best Production,” 4 Helen Hayes Awards (D.C.) including “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” 4 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards (Seattle) including “Excellence in Production of a Musical,” 6 San Diego Critics Circle Awards including “Outstanding New Musical,” 3 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards including “Best New Musical,” 3 Dora Awards (Toronto) including “Outstanding New Musical/Opera” and “Outstanding Production,” and the 2017 Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Toronto).
The Grammy Award-nominated original Broadway cast recording of COME FROM AWAY is available digitally and in stores everywhere. Grammy Award winner David Lai and Grammy Award nominees Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, Irene Sankoff & David Hein served as album producers.
The touring production of COME FROM AWAY will feature Kathleen Cameron, Trey DeLuna, Addison Garner, Andrew Harvey, Andrew Hendrick, Hannah Kato, Chelsea LeValley, Kristin Litzenberg, Miranda Luze, Stanton Morales, Candace Alyssa Rhodes, Molly Samson, Erich Schroeder, Jason Tyler Smith, Nathan David Smith, Shawn W. Smith, Dekontee Tucrkile and Andre Williams.
COME FROM AWAY features a book, music and lyrics by Olivier, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winners and Grammy and two-time Tony Award nominees Irene Sankoff & David Hein, directed by Tony Award winner and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Olivier Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine, and music supervision by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath. The tour is directed by Daniel Goldstein with musical staging by Richard J. Hinds, based on the original Broadway direction and choreography.
COME FROM AWAY features scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Howell Binkley, sound design by Olivier & Outer Critics Circle Award winner and Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Olivier Award winner and Grammy & Tony Award nominee August Eriksmoen, music arrangements by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath, tour music supervision by Wendy Bobbitt-Cavett, and casting by The Telsey Office.
The COME FROM AWAY tour stage management team is led by production stage manager Abby Bobb and is supported by assistant stage manager Gloria Bontrager-Thomas. The company management team is led by company manager Mackenzie Douglas with assistant company manager Jacob Ambrosia. The tour music director is Sarah Pool Wilhelm.
COME FROM AWAY is produced by NETworks Presentations.
COME FROM AWAY (NAMT Festival 2013) was originally developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project, Michael Rubinoff Producer, Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and was further developed at Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, in East Haddam, CT. The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, Steve and Paula Reynolds and The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle WA also provided development support. COME FROM AWAY was originally co-produced in 2015 by La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theater & Presented in 2016 by Ford’s Theatre.
For more information about COME FROM AWAY and to purchase tickets, please visit www.OPAStickets.org.
Courtesy of Craig Boleman
