‘Unlike any other musical’: Auditions now open for KCP’s Come From Away

The seating is shown inside Georgian Theatre in Barrie, Ont. (Kempenfelt Community Players)

Now’s your chance to shine in the spotlight as a popular and charming east coast-based musical makes its way to the region.

The Barrie community theatre company, Kempenfelt Community Players (KCP), has put out the call for auditions in advance of its winter production, Come From Away.

Set in Newfoundland, the musical centres on the true story of 7,000 airplane passengers who find themselves stranded in the small town of Gander and the people of the town who welcome them into their homes, lives and hearts. The story highlights a variety of heartwarming characters and the relationships they build, celebrating the kindness, generosity and acts of humanity of Newfoundland people.

Auditions are open for anyone aged 18 and up. The theatre company says the show’s cast size will be 20, which creates an opportunity to showcase more local talent.

“Come From Away is unlike any other musical,” states the KCP audition page on the website. “It’s a story built on empathy, humanity, humour, resilience, and the extraordinary things that happen when ordinary people choose kindness. As we prepare to bring this story to life, we’re not just looking for exceptional performers— we are looking for people who are excited to be part of an ensemble, who value collaboration, and who want to help create a space where everyone feels supported, respected, and encouraged to do their best work.”

The audition package includes a list of characters and descriptions, words and music, rehearsal and show dates, and a tip sheet for putting your best foot forward during the audition.

“I want each member of the cast, crew, and audience to feel every moment of this powerful musical, leaving with a deeper sense of connection to one another and the world around us,” says Renee Cingolani, director and musical director for the show. “I am extremely excited to welcome you all to the audition process and wish you the best of luck!”

There will be two rounds of auditions - one for online video submissions and the other for in-person and by invite only.

The online video submissions are due by Aug. 21.

The production runs from Feb. 4 to Feb. 14 at the Georgian Theatre.

For those interested in auditioning, the audition package is on the Kempenfelt Community Players website.