Come From Away, the Canadian musical that could, returns to Calgary stage

The cast of Theatre Calgary's production of Come From Away.

Theatre Calgary is closing its 2025-26 season with a Canadian kitchen party that has charmed the world.

Come From Away, the smash musical that tells the story of how the residents of Gander, N.L., hosted thousands of stranded airline passengers on 9/11 in their homes, community centres and anywhere else they could fit them.

The musical, with music and lyrics by Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein, was developed at Sheridan College in 2013 and premiered on Broadway in 2017, where it was embraced by critics and audiences alike.

It received seven Tony Award nominations, including one for Best New Musical and won the hearts of theatregoers, who turned a relatively modest musical into a massive hit — including a Tony Award performance of its signature song “Welcome to the Rock” live on CBS.

“This wonderful musical is intimate and expansive, deeply human, and quietly profound,” said Theatre Calgary’s artistic director Stafford Arima.

”What is especially moving about Come From Away is its refusal to simplify. It acknowledges the fear, confusion, and grief of the stranded passengers, while simultaneously holding space for laughter, resilience, and unexpected joy.

”At Theatre Calgary,“ he added, ”We are continually drawn to works that illuminate who we are to one another. Come From Away does this with remarkable clarity and heart.”

Scam alert

Come From Away has had a couple of Calgary runs over the past several years but the Theatre Calgary production is the first time it’s been in the city in the Elbows Up era — and audiences are craving a made-in-Canada musical.

The run has already been extended for an extra week of performances and on Thursday, Theatre Calgary issued an alert warning ticket buyers about online scammers selling tickets for wildly inflated prices.

“Please be advised that unauthorized third-party resellers are offering tickets to Come From Away at significantly inflated prices. Theatre Calgary is not affiliated with these sellers and cannot guarantee the validity of tickets purchased outside of our official website or box office.

“To ensure you receive authentic tickets at the best available price, we strongly encourage you to purchase directly through Theatre Calgary,” the statement continued. “While some performances may be sold out, tickets are still available for many dates.

“If you have any questions or concerns before purchasing, please contact us directly. Our official website is theatrecalgary.com and box office can be reached at 403-294-7447.”

‘A story about people’

The Calgary production is directed and choreographed by Canadian Jesse Robb, who earned a 2024 Tony nomination for Water for Elephants. Robb has also been the choreographer for Theatre Calgary’s production of A Christmas Carol since 2019.

“At its core, Come From Away is not simply a story about tragedy — it is a story about people. It is about ordinary individuals who chose compassion at a moment when the world desperately needed it,” Robb said.

“Amidst that darkness, the people of Gander and surrounding Newfoundland communities opened their homes, schools, churches, and hearts to thousands of stranded passengers from all over the globe with no hesitation nor expectation of recognition.

“Come From Away reminds us that kindness is not passive,” he says. “It is an active choice made in moments when it matters most.”

Come From Away runs through June 27 at the Max Bell Theatre. For more information, go here.