‘Come From Away’ lands at the Stanley Theatre last week
Charles Buckley, Senior Features Editor
The touring cast and company of the musical “Come From Away” Presented by Broadway Theatre League of Utica performed on Tuesday, April 16, and Wednesday, April 17 at the Stanley Theatre in Utica. “Come From Away” tells the true story of events that took place in the Newfoundland town of Gander, a small and isolated community that is flocked with unexpected visitors after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Thirty-eight planes carrying about 7,000 passengers were ordered to land immediately, bringing them all to Gander International Airport. Despite the cultural differences and language barrier between the people of Gander and the plane’s passengers, the small community welcomed the visitors with open arms and tried to make them feel at home.
Critically acclaimed in the United States and across the globe, “Come From Away” debuted on Broadway in 2017 and ran until 2022, according to Playbill.com.
The touring cast started rehearsals in September in New York City and opened in late October, said Kathleen Cameron, who plays Bonnie in the upcoming show.
Cameron said this musical holds a special place in her heart because her father is Canadian, and her whole family saw the show on Broadway right after it opened.
“Seeing ‘Come From Away’ was a very emotional, joyful experience for us,” Cameron said. “I remember my dad turned to me at the end of the show with tears in his eyes saying: ‘I am so proud to be a Canadian!”
Cameron said one of her favorite parts of working on this show is the wide range of audiences the cast performs for as they tour across the country. She considers the audience as a final puzzle piece for the show.
“ Sometimes we have audiences who love to laugh and really connect with the comedic parts of the show. Other audiences are touched by the heartbreaking, emotional moments. And others really rock out to the music,” Cameron said. “There’s something in ‘Come From Away’ for everyone, and it’s been great fun to see how the show resonates with people all across America.”
While the show has been fun to perform, Cameron admits that it has also come with its own set of challenges. She described it as a very fast-paced production that is also a complex and highly choreographed ensemble piece, keeping all of the actors on their toes.
“We need to put all of our concentration into every performance because if we fumble a line or miss a cue, the train keeps going without us!” Cameron said. “It’s been a great challenge, and also very rewarding. And the end result is a show that audiences want to see again and again to catch the moments they might have missed.”
