VALDOSTA – Lowndes High School Off-Broadway is set to stage Irene Sankoff and David Hein's Tony award-winning musical, "Come From Away," with performances scheduled for 7 p.m. on October 22, 23, and 24 at the Lowndes High School Performing Arts Center, located off Norman Drive. The musical is based on real events that unfolded in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The premise of "Come From Away" focuses on a small town in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, which unexpectedly accommodated approximately 7,000 passengers from 38 planes that were forced to land there. These flights were diverted when U.S. airspace was shut down following the attacks. Dr. Mark McQuade, LHS Off-Broadway director, stated that the musical is "very relevant and poignant today as we are marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2001." He further described it as a moving true story about the town’s efforts to support thousands of stranded travelers.
The musical originally opened on Broadway in 2017 and was nominated for seven Tony awards, including best musical and best original score. It ultimately secured the Tony for best direction of a musical. The characters portrayed in the show are based on actual residents of Gander and the grounded passengers who found themselves away from home for nearly a week.
A tight ensemble of a dozen Lowndes High School students brings the multitude of characters to life, fluidly transitioning between the roles of Gander residents and the stranded passengers. Student cast members include Tanner Hager, Gunner Smith, Jaiden Trollmann, Emma Interrante, Mary Langdale, Colton Burkeen, Adalyn Williamson, Elijah Resurreccion, Maddy Roy, Kendrick Graham, Andre’ Howell, and M.K. Rucker. Despite the fact that many of the cast members were born nearly a decade after the 9/11 attacks, a recent run-through showed the student cast effectively created a relatable tension reminiscent of those uncertain days.
The show itself runs for 90 minutes without an intermission. During rehearsals, Dr. Mark McQuade worked with the cast through scenes set on a plane. Dr. Jennifer McQuade, LHS director of chorus and Mark’s spouse, instructed students to synchronize their breathing to ensure the combined voices of the small cast resonated throughout the performing arts center space. The narrative of the show is propelled forward by its songs, many of which are flavored with the folk music of Newfoundland, helping the audience connect with the characters and their circumstances.
While set in the dark days following 9/11, "Come From Away" is characterized as a show of hope, deep humanity, and compassion. It offers a ray of hope during a challenging time. Tickets for the performances are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for students. All performances are at the Lowndes High School Performing Arts Center, off Norman Drive.
