Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has announced that the 2017 Best Musical Tony Award nominee “Come From Away” is now available to license in the United States and Canada.
Featuring a Tony-nominated book and Tony-nominated score by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, “Come From Away” chronicles the real-life display of community and empathy following the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 in Gander, Newfoundland, where 38 planes diverted to their local airport.
“We are so excited to have ‘Come From Away’ licensed widely by MTI,” Sankoff and Hein said in a statement. “‘Come From Away’ is all about community, and out in the community is where it belongs. When we first wrote ‘Come From Away,’ we hoped that Canadian high schools might be forced to do it — and now, over a decade later — that day has finally arrived!”
“To see this true story about our friends from Newfoundland and from away reach so many people is truly beyond our wildest dreams,” they continued. “There’s never a bad time to tell a story about people being kind to one another, but particularly now, at a time when the world seems so divided, it means so much to see the story of generosity and kindness being embraced by so many.”
Following previews that began on Feb. 18, 2017, “Come From Away” opened on Broadway on March 12 of that year at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The Christopher Ashley-directed production closed on Oct. 2, 2022, following 1,669 performances (and 25 previews). “Come From Away” received seven 2017 Tony nominations, including a nod for Best Musical. Ashley took home the trophy for Best Direction of a Musical.
A subsequent national tour played from October 2018 through May 2023. A live capture of the Broadway production was released on Apple TV+ in 2021. While licensing is now widely available, a non-replica production of “Come From Away” was permitted to bow in Gander in 2023 at Gander Arts and Culture Centre.
“At its core, ‘Come From Away’ is about the power of community — not just as a geographical concept, but as a human one,” said MTI president and CEO Drew Cohen. “Irene and David captured the spirit of this event with a remarkable musical that mirrors the real-life experiences of those involved. With a soaring score and a touching book, this show will now inspire new performers and audience members across the world with this deeply universal story.”
Additional information about licensing “Come From Away” can be found here.
