‘Come From Away’ brings local talent together for musical commemorating 9/11

Mon River Arts’ production of the musical “Come From Away” opens Friday to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the events that inspired it.

As the United States and the world mark the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Mon River Arts will commemorate the events locally with the Tony Award-winning musical “Come From Away.”

Performances are scheduled at the Grand Theatre, 206 S. 2nd Ave., Elizabeth, 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Sept. 18-19, as well as matinees 2 p.m. Sunday and Sept. 20.

Tickets can be purchased online at monriverarts.org or call 412-405-8425.

The musical is based on the true events of Sept. 11, 2001, in the small town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada.

When air traffic was closed following the attacks, 38 planes carrying a total of 7,000 people — nearly as many as there are residents of Gander — were diverted to the town’s small international airport.

As the people of Newfoundland graciously welcome the “come from aways” into their community in the aftermath, the passengers and locals alike process what’s happened while finding love, laughter and new hope in the unlikely and lasting bonds that they forge.

Director Art DeConciliis said he jumped at the opportunity to work on this emotional, yet entertaining musical.

“When I found out that we were doing it on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 event, I was sold,” DeConciliis said. “I just feel it’s an incredible tribute and honor to all the people that survived, and all the people that we lost in that horrible tragedy.”

DeConciliis said the musical resonates with people of all ages.

“I think it has meaning for everybody. “With those of us who are old enough to have been adults during the 9/11 event, and even some of the cast members who were kids, there’s a feeling that everybody that was around them has some type of feeling or story about how that day affected them. I think that’s the interesting thing with this piece,” DeConciliis said. “It’s going to be very difficult to find people sitting in the audience that don’t have some type of emotional connection with what the piece is about. What I really like about the piece is that, in the midst of all this horrible tragedy, there’s this wonderful, redeeming humanity from the people of Gander, who took in all these strays, all these planes that landed 7,000plus people, and took them into their community for five days.”

A veteran actor and director for more than 40 years, De-Conciliis said “Come From Away” will be his third time directing a play for Mon River Arts.

Mon River Arts board President Candice Damiani saw “Come From Away” as part of a seasonal ticket package in 2024 at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh.

She said “Come From Away” became a special moment she shared with her oldest daughter, a paramedic for SouthEast Regional Emergency Medical Services in Elizabeth Township, and her youngest daughter is in college studying theater.

Damiani said the actors in the Mon River Arts production developed their skills to play multiple characters in a single production.

“It’s really cool because it also gives them the experience of being part of the people who were on the plane and were stranded and being part of the people who were helping those people. So it’s a very unique perspective from the actor’s standpoint,” Damiani said.

Mon River Arts is offering a special discounted ticket this weekend for first responders. Contact monriverarts@gmail.com for more information.

First responders who purchased a ticket are also invited to a pre-show reception starting at 6:15 p.m. on opening night, Sept. 11.

“We at Mon River Arts just want them to know that we appreciate them and we would love to have them join us just as a celebration of what they do every day,” Damiani said.

Deconciliis is joined by Assistant Director Jillian Lovelace, music Director Travis Rigby and choreographer Nicole Jones.

Cast List

The cast list of characters followed by the actors playing them are: Claude, played by Mike Hamilla; Bonnie Katie Kerr; Beulah – Kathy Hawk; Oz – Brandon Keller; Janice – Arielle Kroser; Beverly/ Annette – Emily Palma; Diane – Danielle DiClaudio Seanor; Nick/Doug – Eric Thomas; Kevin T/Garth Gavin Calgaro; Kevin J./Ali – Nikk Alcaraz; Bob – Dominic Sager; Hannah- Kristin Pacelli.