On Saturday October 29, Come From Away — the new Sheridan-incubated musical that depicts how Newfoundlanders opened their hearts and homes to over 6,500 international passengers who were stranded for a week after their planes were diverted on September 11 – played two special benefit concerts in the Town of Gander, the community at the centre of the story.
Held in the hockey arena at Gander’s Steele Community Centre, each one played to an audience of 2,500 people, giving the locals who accommodated the “plane people” or “Come From Aways” as they’re known, the chance to see a show that celebrates the deep and lasting impact of their efforts.
Prior to the two concerts, Sheridan hosted a brunch at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum, attended by Gander Mayor Claude Elliott, the US Ambassador to Canada, people whose stories are captured in the show (including Gander Police Chief Oz Fudge, American Airlines pilot Beverly Bass, and Texan airline passenger Kevin Tuerff) as well as Pentagon survivors and others who are deeply touched by the show.
The morning gave Michael Rubinoff, Associate Dean for Visual and Performing Arts the chance to tell the 170 people attending the standing-room-only reception all about the Canadian Music Theatre Project and its role in capturing and telling important Canadian stories, like Come From Away.
In addressing the crowd, Tureff, who was on the fourth plane to land in 2001, urged everyone to learn from the generosity that was exhibited to the stranded passengers. Tureff made a surprise visit to a Sheridan class several years ago to share his story with the students involved in developing the musical. He made an impromptu plug for Sheridan’s CMTP and asked everyone in the room to donate to ensure our important work continues.
Sheridan then presented Mayor Elliott with a framed copy of the full page thank you ad to the residents of Gander, Appleton, Gambo, Glenwood, Lewisporte and Norris Arm that was placed in the October 27 edition of the Gander Beacon. The ad thanked the residents for allowing Sheridan to help steward their story. It also expressed how honoured we were to be in the communities whose extraordinary generosity moved the world and made us all deeply proud to be Canadian.
Mayor Elliott was introduced to two Sheridan alumni, Trevor Patt and Mike Cox, who played the role of Mayor Elliott when Come From Away was workshopped at Sheridan.
A team of 140 people, from actors to musicians, producers, investors, and production staff came to Gander to bring the show back to the people who inspired it. Performed at 3pm and again at 8pm in ‘concert format’, the sold-out show amalgamated 16,000 stories in 100 minutes using 12 actors. All proceeds were given to local charities.
Judging by the thunderous applause and boisterous clapping and stomping in Gander before the finale even ended, this musical hit the mark and gave everyone who experienced it a taste of the community’s genuine compassion and hospitality.
To see a snapshot of the audience reaction to the play, visit: https://twitter.com/i/moments/791667396184535040
To be part of the experience at the Sheridan night at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on November 22, visit: https://tickets.sheridancollege.ca/TheatreManager/1/online?event=0
To learn more about the CMTP, visit http://cmtp.sheridancollege.ca/ To learn more about the musical, visit http://comefromaway.com/
If you can’t attend a performance, keep your eyes and ears out for employee events that will bring a taste of Newfoundland to Sheridan’s campuses in November.
To watch the opening number from Come From Away, please visit: http://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay/TV-Watch-The-Opening-Number-of-Broadway-Bound-COME-FROM-AWAY-20160926
