STORY BY AMANDA SPILKER
A play that made its debut on a Sheridan stage is set to be preformed at an influential California theatre.
The Toronto-based husband and wife duo of Irene Sankoff and David Hein penned the 9/11-themed musical dubbed Come From Away.
It is set to have it’s world premier this coming season at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.
The work was commissioned by Michael Rubinoff, associate dean of visual and preforming arts at Sheridan. The play was written for the first season of Sheridan’s Canadian Music Theatre Project.
“They’re just amazing people. They seemed like the right fit for the project,” said Rubinoff of the playwriting power couple who wrote the piece.
Based on the true story of the 7,000 air travellers that unexpectedly landed on the doorstep of Gander, Newfoundland following the Sept. 11 attacks, the musical tells the story of the stranded passengers and those who comforted them.
“The enthusiasm for this piece was enormous. People fell in love with it. They were moved, they cried, they laughed,” said Rubinoff.
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CMTP became Canada’s first development program for Canadian and international composers, lyricists and book writers in 2011, having developed several new musicals which have been preformed around the world.
Come From Away premiered for the first time on Theatre Sheridan stage in 2013, preformed entirely by Sheridan students.
“I was reduced to tears in the most wonderful way,” said Rubinoff. “I was so moved by how they were trying to tell what is incredibly beautiful and special story on such a tragic day.”
“Come from away” is a term Newfoundlanders use to describe visitors who aren’t from the island but end up there.
The play has gone to show at Goodspeed’s Festival of New Artists in Connecticut and will be appearing in the 2015-2016 season at the La Jolla where plays like Jersey Boys and Memphis got their start.
“Our hope is that’ll continue on its way to New York and perhaps one day we’ll see it on Broadway,” said Rubinoff.
The 90-minute version of Come From Away is set to run for six weeks at the La Jolla.
“We’re so proud of David and Irene. We’re so proud of our association with the show,” said Rubinoff. “We’re so proud the contribution that our students made. It’s a dream.”