Audiences will experience an untold story of hope, resilience and the power of community when the curtain rises on Elon University’s upcoming production of “Come From Away,” the fall musical of the 2026-27 season.
“Come From Away” is a musical written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein that tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after U.S. airspace closed on Sept. 11, 2001. The show will run in McCrary Theatre from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7.
Director of the show and assistant professor of music theatre Jacob Brent said a lot of people misunderstand what the show is about. He said it is easy for people to describe the show as just the “9/11 musical,” but that description is off-putting and inaccurate.
“It’s really a story about 9/12,” Brent said. “It’s not about that horrific event. It’s about what happened the morning after.”
Elon University is one of the first universities to acquire the rights to this show. Brent said the creators of the musical, Sankoff and Hein, based the musical on real-life interviews they conducted with the stranded passengers and locals in Gander. He said many lines and song lyrics in the show are the exact words spoken by real people during those interviews.
“Rarely in musical theater do we get to do something that’s based on actual real people that are still alive and around,” Brent said. “It’s daunting for sure but also exciting.”
Brent said research has been key in the rehearsal process, especially since none of the cast was alive when 9/11 happened. He said he shared some of his own experiences living through 9/11 during rehearsals for the cast to truly understand the horror and confusion of the time.
“There has been a lot of work going on to educate the cast, because we are shining a light on this moment in history,” Brent said. “We just want to make sure that we’re honoring everyone.”
Senior Madelynn Forcier plays “Diane,” a middle-aged woman from Texas who unexpectedly finds love while stranded in Gander. Forcier said she has watched every interview available of the real-life Diane to craft who she is and portray her with as much nuance as possible.
“Honestly, it has been pretty hard because she’s not a celebrity and there isn’t that much information other than this story,” Forcier said. “I’m just digging what I can.”
Forcier said playing a real person has some challenges, as there is pressure to get her story right, but she also said she appreciates having a groundwork for her to build and expand upon.
Sophomore Jakob Robinson, who plays “Nick,” said that talking to his parents and directors really helped him understand the weight of what it felt like to live during 9/11. He said one story that particularly stuck out to him was his mother going to the grocery store after it happened and seeing Muslim women crying in the parking lot.
“I just had this understanding that, regardless of where you were in America or if you were on one of the planes diverted to Newfoundland, your life is completely flipped upside down,” Robinson said.
According to Robinson, doing “Come From Away” expanded his viewpoint on 9/11. He said he was aware of all the news coverage and the fear and uncertainty, but was never taught about people’s stories as it was happening.
“I understand the real people behind the characters and their personal experiences now rather than just the knowledge and facts of the event that was fed to the American people,” Robinson said.
Sophomore Samantha Probst said the kindness, generosity and resilience of the people in the show have inspired her.
“These evil, horrible people tried to crumble America and our people,” Probst said. “But ultimately, we came together because of it.”
Probst plays “Beverly,” the first female captain of an American Airlines commercial plane. Probst said playing this character gave her a new perspective on 9/11 and what it must have felt like to have been a pilot versus a passenger while planes were actively being diverted.
“Pilots had a job to do and they couldn’t break down. Beverly couldn’t break down,” Probst said. “I would have been terrified and I can’t imagine being that strong.”
She said the community of Gander really came together to help support each other during one of the darkest times in America.
“Even though we were being tested with this tragic event and loss, this show explores how some good came out of it,” Probst said. “People were looking out for each other and building this community for strangers they didn’t even know.”
Forcier said the crux of this story is about the power of humanity and kindness in tragedy. She said it is hard for her to imagine such a strong reaction if something like 9/11 occurred in 2026. Forcier said she hopes people leave the show feeling like they could be a little kinder to people.
“I feel like in 2026 it’s unheard of for these people who are from a different country to care so much about thousands of people that they don’t know, and to give them the clothes off their back and the food in their house just because they know that they’re going through a hard time,” Forcier said. “It’s magical.”
Brent said a lot has changed since 2001 and he said he is curious about how the audience will perceive the musical now. He said he hopes the time and distance away from the event won’t discredit the importance of the messages.
“We want this profound, beautiful story to be incorporated into people’s lives,” Brent said. “The energy of the show needs to ripple out and resonate so the essence of the show will carry on.”
Robinson said he still feels the effects of 9/11 and how it has shaped America even though he wasn’t alive. He said he feels honored to perform this show on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 because it is a narrative that not many people know about.
“This is a chance to expose people to a different side of a well-known story,” Robinson said.
“Come From Away” will run in McCrary Theatre with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31, Nov. 5, 6 and 7, as well as matinee shows at 2 p.m. Nov. 1 and 7. Tickets are available starting Oct. 9 on the Elon Performing Arts website.