MOLINE, ILLINOIS (August 17, 2026) — If you were old enough you know where you were, who you were with and what you felt on September 11, 2001. The Black Box Theatre presents Come from Away, the Tony Award-winning musical that shares the true and extraordinary story of thousands of stranded airline passengers welcomed to Gander Newfoundland, a town of only 7,000 who pulled together as 38 planes were diverted to their small town.
“I first saw Come from Away in London and ever since I have wanted to put it on the Black Box stage. As the 25th anniversary approached, I just felt we were the right venue at the right time to honor those we lost and to celebrate the gift of human goodness in the worst of times,” said Lora Adams Artistic Director at the BBT. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come from Away weaves together true stories with music inspired by Celtic and English rhythms of Atlantic Canada, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador.
It opened on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on March 12, 2017, and became a critical and box office success. The Broadway production closed on October 2, 2022, after playing 25 previews and 1,669 regular performances. It has had successful runs in several countries, touring companies as well as playing 1,048 performances in the West End in London.
The musical was nominated for seven awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Jenn Colella, winning for Best Direction of a Musical for Christopher Ashley. At the 2019 Laurence Olivier Awards, it was nominated for nine awards and won three, including Best New Musical.
The production is directed and designed by Lora Adams, music direction by Amy Trimble, choreography by Madeleine Rhode, and light design by Alexander Richardson. The cast features Doug Kutzli, Shana Kulhavy, Morris Nunn, Joe Urbanitis, Abby Bastian, Noah Hill, Becca Johnson, Karen LeFebvre, Abigail Trabue, Morris Nunn, Thayne Lamb, Tommy Ratkiewicz, Emily Schwartz, Krystle Gascoigne, Kirsten Myers, and Paul Holland.
Rehearsal and performance pianist is Jonathan Turner.
This production is sponsored in part by The Victor and Doris Day Foundation.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at theblackboxtheatre.com.
