A Town, a Tragedy, and the Triumph of Kindness

The musical Come From Away — with book, music and lyrics by married couple Irene Sankoff and David Hein — tells the remarkable true story of the small town of Gander (population 9,000) in Newfoundland, Canada, about 1,500 miles from New York City. Nearly 25 years ago, in 2001, this isolated community drew worldwide attention when it played host to almost 7,000 “come from aways” (as Newfoundlanders call non-locals). Thirty-eight international flights were diverted there when the skies over the United States shut down on September 11.

Kent M. Lewis and Gwen Hollander

Director and choreographer Richard J. Hinds, who worked as associate director for the Broadway and West End productions, has brought together a versatile cast of twelve actors at La Mirada Theatre. Each plays multiple roles, from the townspeople who opened their doors and their hearts (and their bars) with real warmth and generosity to the “plane people” who suddenly found themselves stranded. The passengers and crew come from every background. There’s Ali (Hayden Kharazi), a Muslim traveler whose presence makes some people uneasy, and Bob (Clinton Roane), a young Black man from New York who’s used to being cautious about how he’s perceived. Being thrown together in such strange circumstances can test relationships too. The two Kevins, a gay couple from California (El-Jor as Kevin G. and Steven-Adam Agdeppa as Kevin T.), grow distant and eventually drift apart. But Diane (Gwen Hollander), a housewife from Texas, and Nick (Kent M. Lewis), a nervous, never-married British businessman, discover new sides of themselves and even fall for each other.

Steven-Adam Agdeppa, Hayden Kharrazi, Gwen Hollander, Erich Schroeder and Andy Umberger

The musical also highlights several strong female figures whose resilience comes across as especially inspiring. Beulah, head of Gander Academy (played with buoyant energy by Maura Vincent), organizes food, clothing, and sleeping arrangements, even making sure there are enough diapers and feminine products. She bonds with Hannah (Krystle Rose Simmons), the mother of a firefighter stationed near the World Trade Center, who’s desperate to reach her son. Dantzler delivers a riveting version of “I Am Here,” the show’s only solo number. In it, she laments being stuck far away, unable to check hospitals or post signs, and the song absolutely stops the show. One of the most memorable characters is Captain Beverly Bass, the first female captain for American Airlines, portrayed by Misty Cotton. Her performance is right on target, and when she sings “Me and the Sky,” joined by the company, the number becomes a dreamlike portrait of ambition and persistence.

Steven-Adam Agdeppa (center) and the company

The show also gives space for lighter moments. Cotton doubles as Annette, a schoolteacher with a playful imagination about the new arrivals. Janice (Katrina Michaels) is the town’s rookie TV reporter, who quickly shifts into the role of a big-box store clerk without missing a beat, greeting passengers with lines like, “Welcome to Walmart. Do you want to come to my house and take a shower?” Bonnie (Angela Chatelain Avila), an SPCA worker, and Oz Fudge (Erich Schroeder), a police constable, look after both people and animals with a mix of care and humor. Mayor Claude (Andy Umberger) holds his daily court at the local Tim Horton’s. In one of the funniest and most educational scenes, he leads newcomers through the local tradition of kissing a cod to become honorary Newfoundlanders.

Angela Chatelain Avila, Kent M. Lewis, Andy Umberger,
Erich Schroeder, Gwen Hollander and Steven-Adam Agdeppa

Newfoundland is known for its lively culture and music, and La Mirada’s Come From Away captures that spirit in full. A six-piece band, led by music director Sam Groisser on keys and accordion, blends Celtic, European, Indigenous, and maritime traditions with fiddle, whistles, Uilleann pipes, bouzouki, fretless bass, and bodhran. Each of the twelve cast members is also an actor-musician, playing instruments on stage to deepen their characters’ voices and emotions.

Misty Cotton (center) with the company

Musical theater is always collaborative, and this production is no exception; all designers contribute to the storytelling. Costume designer Michelle J. Li, (Broadway’s Job), shows her knack for grounding the story in time and place while enabling lightning-fast costume changes. Scenic, lighting, and sound designers Nate Bertone, Steven Young, and Josh Bessom bring detail and precision to every choice, cue, and square inch of space.

The company

La Mirada has built a reputation for strong Broadway-style productions, and Bertone’s set original design is an improvement over the sparse Broadway staging. The stage bursts with hundreds of vintage suitcases stacked floor to ceiling. Signs like Tim Horton’s and Gander decorate the walls, which shift from school bulletin boards to glimpses of sky. Panels slide open to reveal the band, while a wheeled platform (resembling boarding stairs) connects upper and lower levels of the stage.

Misty Cotton and Clinton Roane

I do have a couple of small quibbles with the show. The quick pacing and constant role-shifting keep energy high, but sometimes they flatten the characters. With so many stories being told, emotional depth occasionally feels skimmed. Another small quibble is this: the show doesn’t fully wrestle with the darker, more complicated side of post-9/11 life, leaning instead toward a hopeful, feel-good narrative.

The company

Come From Away is bookended beautifully by “Welcome to the Rock,” which first greets the plane people and later returns at the 10th anniversary when locals and visitors reunite. After the curtain call, the cast leaves but the band keeps playing, letting the music linger. This actor-musician production is worth the trip down the 5 freeway. You’ll walk away with a skip in your step, a grin on your face, and renewed faith in the kindness of strangers and the power of music to connect us all.