- June 4, 2024
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For Immediate Release
Media Contact: John Karastamatis, Sue Toth, Erin Nantais
Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Canadian Cast Features: Kyle Brown, Clint Butler, Saccha Dennis, Steffi Didomenicantonio, Kate Etienne, Barbara Fulton, Lisa Horner, Barbara Johnston, James Kall, Jeff Madden, Jawon Mapp, Ali Momen, Sarah Nairne, Cory O’Brien, Kristen Peace, David Silvestri, Cailin Stadnyk, and Aaron Walpole
Co-Creator Irene Sankoff Joins the Cast for the Ottawa Engagement
Performances In Ottawa Begin August 14, 2024 at The National Arts Centre
Performances In Toronto Begin September 22, 2024 at The Royal Alexandra Theatre
David Mirvish and The National Arts Centre English Theatre are delighted to announce the cast of the new Canadian production of the multi-award-winning global sensation Come From Away.
Come From Away will play a limited run at the Babs Asper Theatre, National Arts Centre in Ottawa from August 14 to September 1, 2024. It will then travel to Toronto for its return engagement, playing at the Royal Alexandra Theatre from September 22 through December 22, 2024.
Tickets to Come From Away in Ottawa are on sale at nac-cna.ca. Tickets for the Toronto return (first block of performances until December 22) are on sale at mirvish.com.
This production of Come From Away is produced by Mirvish Productions and The National Arts Centre English Theatre.
About The Cast
Come From Away features an all-Canadian cast. All but three of the 18-member company were part of the earlier production of the show, which began in Toronto on February 18, 2018 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Its run was cut short by the global pandemic on March 13, 2020.
Starring are: Kyle Brown as Bob & others, Saccha Dennis as Hannah & others, Steffi Didomenicantonio as Janice & others, Barbara Fulton as Diane & others, Lisa Horner as Beulah & others, James Kall as Nick/Doug & others, Jeff Madden as Kevin T. /Garth & others, Ali Momen as Kevin J. /Ali & others, Cory O’Brien as Oz & others, Kristen Peace as Bonnie & others, David Silvestri as Claude & others and Cailin Stadnyk as Beverley/Annette & others. The cast also includes Clint Butler, Kate Etienne, Barbara Johnston, Jawon Mapp, Sarah Nairne and Aaron Walpole as Standbys.
(New to the Come From Away family are: Barbara Johnston, Jawon Mapp and Aaron Walpole.)
Exclusive for the Ottawa engagement, Come From Away’s co-creator, Irene Sankoff, will perform Bonnie & others at The National Arts Centre.
About Come From Away
This New York Times Critic's Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
This breathtaking musical is written by Tony®-nominated Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein and featuring Tony®-winning direction by Christopher Ashley. Newsweek cheers, “It takes you to a place you never want to leave!”
On 9/11, the world stopped.
On 9/12, their stories moved us all.
Come From Away features a book, music and lyrics by Olivier, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award winners and Grammy and two-time Tony Award nominees Irene Sankoff & David Hein, direction by Tony Award winner and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Olivier Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine, and music supervision by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath.
Come From Away features scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Howell Binkley, sound design by Olivier & Outer Critics Circle Award winner and Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Olivier Award winner and Grammy & Tony Award nominee August Eriksmoen, and music arrangements by Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Ian Eisendrath.
A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical has won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London) including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical,” 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical,” 4 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (North American Tour) including “Best Production,” 4 Helen Hayes Awards (D.C.) including “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” 4 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards (Seattle) including “Excellence in Production of a Musical,” 6 San Diego Critics Circle Awards including “Outstanding New Musical,” 3 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards including “Best New Musical,” 3 Dora Awards (Toronto) including “Outstanding New Musical/Opera” and “Outstanding Production,” and the 2017 Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Toronto).
The Grammy Award-nominated original Broadway cast recording of Come From Away is available digitally and in stores everywhere. Grammy Award winner David Lai and Grammy Award nominees Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, Irene Sankoff & David Hein served as album producers.
Come From Away was originally produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff and Sue Frost).
Come From Away was originally co-produced in 2015 by La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre, and presented in 2016 by Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, and Mirvish Productions at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Come From Away was developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project (Michael Rubinoff Producer, Sheridan College in Oakville, ON), and was further developed at Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, in East Haddam, CT. It was also part of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in New York 2013. The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, and the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA, also provided development support.
Cast Bios
KYLE BROWN Bob & others
Kyle is honoured to welcome Toronto (once again) and Ottawa to the rock! Having had the privilege to share this historic and impactful story abroad, it is a joy to bring it back home. Select credits: Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (The LOT), Bob & Others in Come From Away (Toronto - Mirvish/Australian National Tour - Newtheatricals), Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (TIFT), Tyson in Tyson’s Song (Pleiades Theatre), Come From Away (Gander - ACC). Kyle also appeared in ECHOES: A Musical Film (SEOK Creative - Montréal World Film Festival). An ocean of thanks to all family, friends and colleagues for the constant support and encouragement. Instagram: @thekyleofkyles
SACCHA DENNIS Hannah & others
Saccha is thrilled to be back on the rock! As an actor, educator, creator and director whose career spans decades, her highlighted acting credits include: Four seasons at the Shaw Festival, first national U.S. tour of We Will Rock You, Sousatzka: a new musical with Tony Award winner Victoria Clarke, Jacob two-two, James and the Giant Peach (Dora nominations - YPT), Sister Act (Rainbow Stage), Avenue Q, (Citadel Theatre), Dreamgirls (Theatre Aquarius, SW), Little Shop (The Rose Theatre, Sudbury). She was also the first black Dorothy in Wizard of Oz at the Young People’s Theatre! Check out new and upcoming works at sacchadennis.com
STEFFI DIDOMENICANTONIO Janice & others
Steffi is thrilled to be back reporting live for Rogers TV! She is a bilingual Dora Award nominated performer who has appeared on stages and screens for over 15 years. Steffi played Ilse in the 1st national tour of Spring Awakening, was a Top 5 finalist on Season 4 of Canadian Idol and performed Come From Away over 900 times in Toronto and on tour in the United States. She co-hosted the Mirvish online talk show Check In From Away and appeared in over 45 TV shows, movies and commercials including Chucky, Transplant, Frankie Drake, Umbrella Academy, Crawford and Murdoch Mysteries. Instagram: @SteffiD5 SteffiD.ca
BARBARA FULTON Diane & others
Most recently: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (The Grand Theatre), Sweet Delilah Swim
Club (Drayton), Come From Away (Mirvish), Life After (Canadian Stage), Stratford Festival: 22 seasons, selected, A Little Night Music, Into The Woods, The Lion, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Carousel, Fiddler on the Roof, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Elektra, The Miracle Worker, Bonjour la, Bonjour. ‘Grizabella’ in the original Canadian company of CATS (Elgin Theatre). It’s truly a gift to be invited to return to this glorious show. As always, love to Paul and Christopher.
LISA HORNER Beulah & others
For Mirvish Productions: Les Misérables, Kinky Boots, The Wizard of Oz, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding (world premiere) written by Sankoff & Hein. A thirty-five-year acting veteran in theatre and tv/film, Lisa recently had the pleasure of performing in the premiere production of Burning Mom, a solo piece written by Mieko Ouchi, at the RMTC. Lisa is also a director: premiere of Those Movies, Jenny’s House of Joy’ at the Foster Festival, a teacher, personal support worker and the proud recipient of two Dora awards and a Bessie for her work. Much love to this CFA team. And always to my guy Matthew.
JAMES KALL Nick/Doug & others
For Mirvish: Kinky Boots, The Sound of Music. Broadway/Tours: Come From Away, By Jeeves, Mamma Mia!, Spelling Bee, Fiddler on the Roof. Select Regional Theatre: Hamlet, Edward II (Yale Rep); She Loves Me, The Cherry Orchard (Great Lakes Theatre); A Question of Mercy (Philadelphia Theatre Company); Carousel (Chicago Opera); Twelve Angry Men, Mary Poppins, Sleuth, (Drayton Entertainment). Select Film/TV: Schitt’s Creek, Suits, Gentle Barbarians, Cabinet of Curiosities, Murdoch Mysteries, Mayday, Christmas in Washington, It Takes a Christmas Village, Danger Next Door, Stories from My Gay Grandparents. Yale Drama School and Northwestern University graduate. Choose kindness. For Laura.
JEFF MADDEN Kevin T./Garth & others
Jeff is thrilled to return to Come From Away! Most recently, Jeff co-created and toured his new concert show, How We Got To Jersey - A Tale Of Two Frankies with Adrian Marchuk. Selected Theatre: Rock of Ages (More Entertainment), Til Then (Eclipse Theatre), Forever Plaid (Starvox/Mirvish), Echoes (Andrew Seok), Jersey Boys (Dora Award Winner - Outstanding Performance as ‘Frankie Valli’), and eight seasons at The Shaw Festival. Selected TV: Accused, The Parker-Andersons, Mayday and Murdoch Mysteries. Jeff has written three Cabaret shows, recorded two CDs, and teaches actor-singers privately and at Sheridan and Randolph Colleges. Big love to Sydney & Emily!
ALI MOMEN Kevin J./Ali & others
Ali is thrilled to be back on The Rock! Selected Theatre: Disgraced (Mirvish), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage), Much Ado About Nothing (Tarragon), Kite Runner (Theatre Calgary), three seasons at the Shaw Festival. Selected Film and Television: Dr. Karim inTransplant, Walker in Working’ Moms, Kamran Gant in Star Trek: Discovery, Nep in Beeba Boys. Social Media: @alimomen. As always, love to his family, loved ones, and his forever puppy, Rumi.
CORY O’BRIEN Oz & others
Happy to return to the land of OZ! Oz Fudge that is! Commercial theatre credits include Disney’s Mary Poppins 1st Nat’l tour, Teatro Proscenium’s world premiere Souzatska, Cats at the Panasonic, and the world premiere of The Lord of The Rings for Mirvish productions. 7 seasons with the Stratford Festival: As You Like it, A Chorus Line, Sound of Music, Carousel, Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, Cabaret, Trojan Women, My Fair Lady, Love’s Labours Lost, Inherit the Wind, Threepenny Opera, Gigi. TV/Film Mayday, Hot Zone, Mayor of Kingstown, and The Silence starring Stanley Tucci. For Ella and Christy.
KRISTEN PEACE Bonnie & others (Toronto)
There has been a saying within the companies that you are never quite done with Come From Away. Well here we go again! Kristen has been playing leading roles all across North America (and some distant lands) for most of her life. Kristen has also lent her voice to many commercials, movies, TV shows and video games. A staple in Canadian theater, she is absolutely thrilled to be back with this incredible show. Kristen would like to thank everyone who has made this show a home for her and she sends love to her friends and family for their ongoing support. Instagram: @kripeace
IRENE SANKOFF Book, Music & Lyrics, Bonnie & others (Ottawa)
is an Olivier Award winning, Tony nominated writer, holding an MFA in Acting from the Actor's Studio Drama School as well as honorary doctorates from Memorial and Pace Universities. She has performed on stage and screen (including the 9/11 docu-drama, The Last Hour of Flight 11). With husband/writing partner, David Hein, Irene performed in and wrote the Fringe/Mirvish hit, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, earning Best Musical awards across America. Irene has developed projects for Disney, Netflix and Warner Bros, but is best known for Come From Away. Proud Canadians, CFA is the duo's second musical, the 50th longest running Broadway show, and is currently playing around the world.
DAVID SILVESTRI Claude & others
David is honoured to return to the CFA family to tell this incredible story once more to Canadian audiences. Favourite Credits include: Come from Away, Les Misérables, Kinky Boots (Mirvish). 42nd St./Pirates of Penzance (Stratford). Shrek the Musical, Neil Simon’s Chapter 2, Come from Away Australian National Tour, Guys and Dolls, Valentin in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Fiddler on the Roof, Blood Brothers, Too Many Cooks, Broadway Concert Series: (Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera), Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, Lenny in Of Mice and Men, Frederick in Noises Off, Biff in Death of a Salesman, Oscar in The Odd Couple, Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods, Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors, City of Angels, Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar Concert, Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, Toy Story the musical, Hercules the Musical. Much love to Talent House, family, and friends for all their love and support.
CAILIN STADNYK Beverley/Annette & others
After spending the last few years as a standby in both the Toronto & Broadway 1st National Tour companies, Cailin is beyond elated to step into this dream role. Select theatre credits include A Few Good Men, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The (Post) Mistress, Les Misérables, One Man-Two Guvnors, Waiting for the Parade, Cats, Hairspray, Singin’ In The Rain (Jessie Nomination), How to Succeed in Business (Ovation Nomination), The Wild Party (Ovation Nomination), Little Shop of Horrors, Company, Cabaret, Urinetown, Fiddler on The Roof, Gypsy, and Funny Girl (Ovation Award). Big thanks to Junkyard Dogs, Mirvish and Talent House. Big love to Michael, Lolli and our families. Visit www.cailinstadnyk.com or Instagram: @cailinstadnyk for more. For my Rigby.
CLINT BUTLER Standby
Proudly from Foxtrap, Newfoundland. THEATRE: Come From Away (ACC Gander); Come From Away (Mirvish, North American Tour); Come From Away in Concert (Marquis); Priscilla (Stage West); KAMP (Neptune/Eastern Front); Mamma Mia! (Neptune, Rainbow Stage); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Perfect Wedding (Stephenville Festival); Habib’s Unforgettable All-Night House Party (Resource Centre for the Arts/Western Canada Theatre); Mary Poppins (Globe); Nature of the Beast (Storefront); A History of Summer (TO Summerworks); Artistic Fraud’s Oil and Water (National Tour). TV/FILM: Hudson & Rex; Republic of Doyle; Last Vestiges. Mudder’s Hands, After Heather (Director). Love to family, friends, Kev, and the Talent House.
KATE ETIENNE Standby
We’re back, baby! Kate is so excited to be bringing Come From Away back. Kate has been performing in CFA companies across North America since 2017 including Toronto, the Broadway National Tour and Gander, Newfoundland. Other favourite credits include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Stage West Calgary), The Little Mermaid (Globe Theatre), Les Belles Soeurs (Theatre Calgary/Segal Centre), Faust world premiere (Theatre by the Bay), Little Women (Theatre New Brunswick), Little Shop of Horrors (Rose Theatre), Variations on a Nervous Breakdown (Stephenville Theatre Festival), Disney Cruise Lines. Proudly from Corner Brook, Newfoundland. If you love this show, do yourself a favour and go visit the province! “The candle’s in the window and the kettle’s always on.” Tell ‘em I sent ya.
BARBARA JOHNSTON Standby
Barbara is a Dora nominated performer, writer, director and choreographer who has spent the past decade touring the globe as “Ginger Spice” in Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute. Selected choreography credits (TV) Orphan Black, Ginny & Georgia, (Theatre) Musical Stage Company, Outside the March. Selected writing credits with Anika Johnson: Blood Ties (Edinburgh Fringe), Choir! (TO Fringe/Edge of the Sky), Fangirl (w. book writer Nick Green; Musical Stage Company), Summerland (w. Anika Johnson/Suzy Wilde). She performs with Corpus Dance Projects and hosts an annual holiday variety show “Jingle Babz & Friends”. Barbara is thrilled to be making her Mirvish debut and thanks her parents and sister. www.babzjohnston.com
JAWON MAPP Standby
Jawon is overjoyed to be making his Mirvish debut in Come From Away. He is coming off his first season at the Shaw Festival where he performed in The Amen Corner, A Grand Night For Singing, and Brigadoon. Other credits include Into The Woods (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) and, Crack Of Doom (Toronto Fringe Festival) Other: Graduate of the Music Theatre Performance program at St. Clair College. Jawon would like to thank his mom, family, closest friends, and the 10 Talent Management team for believing in and pushing him to achieve his dreams! Welcome to the Rock! Instagram: @jmoneyswagswag
SARAH NAIRNE Standby, Dance Captain
Sarah Nairne is an actor/singer born and raised in the Waterloo Region. She is so excited to be back “on the rock” to explore in this production again in Canada! Sarah’s selected credits include The Invisble (Grand Theatre/Catalyst Theatre) Come From Away (Australian National Tour, NewTheatricals & Mirvish Productions), Canadian Premiere of The Color Purple at (Neptune Theatre, the Citadel Theatre/Royal MTC co-production), Black and Blue Matters - Workshop (Black Theatre Workshop) and Cinderella the Panto (Drayton Entertainment) and more. She is thankful to God, her family, friends and agents at Talent House. Follow Sarah on Instagram: @canvassarah
AARON WALPOLE Standby
Aaron is excited to be joining the Come From Away family and bringing this story to Toronto
audiences. Some of his previous theatre credits include Les Miserables (Broadway/Toronto/Tour), Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway/Japan/ Stratford Festival), Kinky Boots (Tour/Japan), Rock Of Ages (Mirvish/Drayton) Camelot, Guys ’N Dolls, Anything Goes (Stratford Festival), Grease (Citadel Theatre), Fiddler On The Roof, Man Of La Mancha, The Drowsy Chaperone, You’ll Get Used To It: The War Show (Drayton Ent.), etc.. Aaron has also appeared in film and TV productions and has a self-titled album through Sony/BMG Canada.
About the show
