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LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.—When one first learns that on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 a theater company is presenting a work that recalls events that took place at the time of that shocking, horrible event, one might easily expect the show to be depressing and painful. But “Come From Away,” now in an exceptional revival at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is just the opposite. Indeed, the show is one of the most heartfelt and humane productions one is likely to see in theaters today.
“Come From Away” is a true story of how the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada welcomed around 7,000 airline passengers stranded during the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York City. At the time of the event, the United States closed its airspace immediately following the attack, which forced 38 civilian and four military planes to land unexpectedly at the Gander International Airport.
Gander had a population of only 10,000, and, for five days, its local residents opened their homes, schools, and churches to feed, clothe, and comfort the frightened, confused travelers until flights resumed on Sept. 16.
The musical was written and composed by the Canadian husband-and-wife team of David Hein and Irene Sankoff. They gathered hundreds of hours of raw audio recordings and transcripts of the travelers’ stories and experiences and turned their encounters and ordeals into a profound emotional narrative. They set the story to music because the characters were dealing with such powerful terror, confusion, and grief that the feelings were too strong for speech. Sankoff and Hein believed that only music could encompass and convey their unspeakable emotions.
The musical score, well conducted by Celia Villacres, utilizes Celtic folk rock, with fiddles and pipes. The show opens with the musical opening number of “Welcome to The Rock,” which establishes the setting and introduces the residents of Gander as they learn of the travelers’ predicament and the devastating terrorist attack (“38 Planes”).
Following that scene is “Blankets & Bedding,” which captures the town’s chaotic, massive mobilization efforts as they create makeshift shelters. The show also features the song “Me and the Sky,” which is a show-stopping solo by Capt. Beverly Bass (a convincing Lexie Dorsett Sharp). The American Airlines pilot sings about her lifelong passion for flying.
With fast-paced direction by Jessica Fisch, “Come From Away” includes a high-energy scene in a local bar where stranded passengers are initiated as honorary Newfoundlanders. “Something Missing” takes place after the passengers have returned home and realized that their world has been changed forever.
A Wonderful Production
The minimalist set design on Marriott’s intimate theater-in-the-round stage is one of the most imaginative of any of its productions. Scenic designer Scott Penner uses 12 chairs and two tables to create a variety of locations. The backdrop features towering, rugged tree trunks that evoke the raw and isolated landscape of Newfoundland and a rotating turntable that simulates the movement of passengers.
The creative set transitions from chairs that are tightly lined up in columns of two, suggesting the cramped quarters of a plane, to chairs positioned into a single file to create a semblance of a school bus taking passengers down a dark road. Furthermore, the lighting design by Jesse Klug acts as the primary clock and calendar as the scenes shift in time and location over the five-day timeframe.
The show features 12 actors who play multiple parts and remain in the same costumes by designer Jessica Pabst. They do not have costume changes as the scenes quickly shift from a parked airplane cabin to a yellow school bus to a crowded bar. Because the show is an ensemble production, the other performers (Justin Albinder, Sarah Bockel, Matt Crowle, Devin DeSantis, Denise Devlin, Alex Goodrich, Sharriese Hamilton, Madison Kauffman, Heidi Kettenring, Michael Earvin Martin, and Jonathan Shaboo, including Sharp) are all highlighted.
Although one might expect that audiences would leave the theater feeling distress and cynicism, the responses I heard as people left their seats expressed a sense of hope and a renewed faith in humanity. At its core, “Come from Away” is a celebration of human kindness and community resilience in the face of an inhumane tragedy. Rather than focusing on the horror, the show, though, shifts its perspective on the better part of human nature.
‘Come From Away’
Marriott Theatre
10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire, Ill.
Tickets: 847-634-0200 or MarriottTheatre.com
Runs: 1 hour, 40 minutes (no intermission)
Closes: Oct. 18, 2026
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