Come From Away Returns to CT with powerful performances at waterbury's palace theatre
By Kiersten Bjork (April 4, 2025)
The national tour of Come From Away returned to Connecticut this past weekend, playing for three performances at Waterbury’s Palace Theatre April 4-5. If you’ve never seen Come From Away, I highly recommend grabbing tickets the next time there’s a production near you. The first regional productions are starting to pop up, perhaps most notably the production coming this May-June to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine.
Come From Away never ceases to blow me away, and this was the fourth time that I’ve seen the show – twice on Broadway, and twice on tour. It’s a deeply moving, beautifully crafted, and expertly performed piece that draws you in from the first downbeat and doesn’t let you go until the final bows, and even then, the onstage band plays the audience out as they are leaving. It combines an upbeat score, precise staging and choreography, and clever dialogue to share an incredibly powerful story. The national tour features direction by Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Kelly Devine, and music direction by Sarah Pool Wilhelm. Daniel Goldstein is credited with direction restaging and Richard J. Hinds with musical staging restaging. Orchestrations are by August Eriksmoen and arrangements are by Ian Eisendrath. Eisendrath also serves as music supervisor, with Wendy Bobbitt Cavett as associate music supervisor and John Mezzio as music coordinator.
The national tour of Come From Away returned to Connecticut this past weekend, playing for three performances at Waterbury’s Palace Theatre April 4-5. If you’ve never seen Come From Away, I highly recommend grabbing tickets the next time there’s a production near you. The first regional productions are starting to pop up, perhaps most notably the production coming this May-June to the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine.
Come From Away never ceases to blow me away, and this was the fourth time that I’ve seen the show – twice on Broadway, and twice on tour. It’s a deeply moving, beautifully crafted, and expertly performed piece that draws you in from the first downbeat and doesn’t let you go until the final bows, and even then, the onstage band plays the audience out as they are leaving. It combines an upbeat score, precise staging and choreography, and clever dialogue to share an incredibly powerful story. The national tour features direction by Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Kelly Devine, and music direction by Sarah Pool Wilhelm. Daniel Goldstein is credited with direction restaging and Richard J. Hinds with musical staging restaging. Orchestrations are by August Eriksmoen and arrangements are by Ian Eisendrath. Eisendrath also serves as music supervisor, with Wendy Bobbitt Cavett as associate music supervisor and John Mezzio as music coordinator.
National Touring Production of COME FROM AWAY 2024-25 (Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Come From Away tells the story of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, and of the “plane people” who find themselves grounded there in the days following 9/11. It is a story of community, and one that spotlights shared grief, fear, sorrow, and joy. In a time of such uncertainty and terror, these individuals put aside their lives to welcome the plane people with open arms, giving them food, shelter, and hope as they watched and waited, praying that they would be able to get through to their loved ones. It’s heartbreaking and yet uplifting, tragic, and yet beautiful. Come From Away takes a story about an incredibly trying time, and delivers it to audiences with the power of music and theatre, allowing us to reflect and remember all that happened, and to recognize the people who stepped up to take care of strangers because it was the right thing to do.
National Touring Production of COME FROM AWAY 2024-25 (Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Come From Away is a very ensemble-based show, but each performer is given a chance to shine in their respective tracks. Beverly/Annette and others, the role made famous by Jen Colella on Broadway, is played by Kaitlyn Jackson. Jackson is dynamic and engaging, and her rendition of “Me and the Sky” is breathtaking. Andrew Hendrick portrays the Mayor, Claude, and others, and is an absolute riot, switching from one town’s mayor to the next with different hats and modified accents. As Bonnie and others, Kathleen Cameron makes you smile. Bonnie is determined to take care of all the animals on the planes that have landed, including the rare chimpanzees who happen to be aboard, and her determination and “not-taking-no-for-an-answer” attitude are endearing. As such, Cameron is a delight to watch in the role.
The relationship between Beulah and Hannah is always one of my favorite parts of the show, and Kristin Litzenberg and Hannah-Kathryn Wall deliver that connection beautifully. Beulah takes charge of the efforts at the local school, and Litzenberg exudes educator/mother energy, doing her best to keep calm and cool as the different plane people come through her school doors. Hannah is desperately seeking news from her son, who is a firefighter in New York, and Wall balances the dry humor of the early moments of the show with the fierce, fearful moments later. When the two characters bond over their sons both being firefighters, it’s a truly touching relationship that brings a tear to your eye.
Another relationship that is entertaining to watch grow is that of Diane and Nick. Tyler Olshansky-Bailon plays Diane and others, while John Anker Bow is opposite her as Nick/Doug and others. They have some of the more amusing lines in the show, and the two performers deliver the humor perfectly. Bow in particular has great comedic moments, and the two play off of each other quite well. Their performance of “Stop the World” is very poignant.
Kevin T. and Kevin J. are another charming pair, and their banter had the crowd laughing. Kevin T./Garth and others are played by Richard Chaz-Gomez, while Kevin J./Ali and others are played by Ryaan Farhadi. The relationship between Kevin and Kevin, a gay couple unsure who they can let know that they are together, is interesting to watch over the course of the show. Chaz-Gomez and Farhadi take us on the journey that the two experience, moving from a laughing, joking pair to an unsteady uncertainty that leads them in two different directions by the end. Their other roles, Garth and Ali, are also played well.
Officer Oz and others are portrayed by Erich Schroeder, who also has great comedic timing. I particularly enjoyed the many returns to Shoppers that he recounts, as well as Schroder’s brief scene as the gym teacher who happens to speak Spanish – who knew!
Janice, the reporter whose first day on the job happens to be 9/11, and others, are played by Jordan Hayakawa, who is delightful in the role. Janice starts out hesitant and by the time the show comes to a close, she’s coordinated meals for thousands of people and is being contacted for documentary footage of her experiences. Hayakawa expertly plays that arc, bringing us along from Janice’s first day to the aftermath, and infuses the part with an aptly timid energy that grows over the course of the show.
Rounding out the company is Andre Williams as Bob and others, who is fun to watch, also contributing some wonderfully comedic moments, like when he is asked to just take the grills right out of everyone's backyards. Supporting the company are Nick Berke, K. Bernice, Jordan Diggory, Brooke Melton, Sierra Naomi, and Justin Phillips as standbys.
The relationship between Beulah and Hannah is always one of my favorite parts of the show, and Kristin Litzenberg and Hannah-Kathryn Wall deliver that connection beautifully. Beulah takes charge of the efforts at the local school, and Litzenberg exudes educator/mother energy, doing her best to keep calm and cool as the different plane people come through her school doors. Hannah is desperately seeking news from her son, who is a firefighter in New York, and Wall balances the dry humor of the early moments of the show with the fierce, fearful moments later. When the two characters bond over their sons both being firefighters, it’s a truly touching relationship that brings a tear to your eye.
Another relationship that is entertaining to watch grow is that of Diane and Nick. Tyler Olshansky-Bailon plays Diane and others, while John Anker Bow is opposite her as Nick/Doug and others. They have some of the more amusing lines in the show, and the two performers deliver the humor perfectly. Bow in particular has great comedic moments, and the two play off of each other quite well. Their performance of “Stop the World” is very poignant.
Kevin T. and Kevin J. are another charming pair, and their banter had the crowd laughing. Kevin T./Garth and others are played by Richard Chaz-Gomez, while Kevin J./Ali and others are played by Ryaan Farhadi. The relationship between Kevin and Kevin, a gay couple unsure who they can let know that they are together, is interesting to watch over the course of the show. Chaz-Gomez and Farhadi take us on the journey that the two experience, moving from a laughing, joking pair to an unsteady uncertainty that leads them in two different directions by the end. Their other roles, Garth and Ali, are also played well.
Officer Oz and others are portrayed by Erich Schroeder, who also has great comedic timing. I particularly enjoyed the many returns to Shoppers that he recounts, as well as Schroder’s brief scene as the gym teacher who happens to speak Spanish – who knew!
Janice, the reporter whose first day on the job happens to be 9/11, and others, are played by Jordan Hayakawa, who is delightful in the role. Janice starts out hesitant and by the time the show comes to a close, she’s coordinated meals for thousands of people and is being contacted for documentary footage of her experiences. Hayakawa expertly plays that arc, bringing us along from Janice’s first day to the aftermath, and infuses the part with an aptly timid energy that grows over the course of the show.
Rounding out the company is Andre Williams as Bob and others, who is fun to watch, also contributing some wonderfully comedic moments, like when he is asked to just take the grills right out of everyone's backyards. Supporting the company are Nick Berke, K. Bernice, Jordan Diggory, Brooke Melton, Sierra Naomi, and Justin Phillips as standbys.
National Touring Production of COME FROM AWAY 2024-25 (Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Scenic design by Beowulf Boritt is simple, yet effective. Towering trees occupy the left and right sides of the stage, hosting a variety of lights and location signage on their trunks. Upstage is a wall of wood paneling that provides for a handful of unique entrances and exits, including a hatch that opens up to evoke the door of one of the planes. The wooden wall is also used to wonderful effect by lighting designer Howell Binkley, who covers the area with a range of colors over the course of the show, like you would a cyc. Ryan O’Gara supports Binkley as the associate lighting designer. The overall lighting for the production plays nicely with the scenic pieces, crafting a stunning world for the show to live within.
Sound design by Gareth Owen is solid, with a strong balance throughout, including the mixing of the cast with the live band on stage. Costumes by designer Toni-Leslie James and hair by designer David Brian Brown are well-suited to their respective characters. Pieces are added as needed to distinguish the many different roles the actors play, beyond their main characters, and the hats, jackets, scarves, and more do a great job of helping the audience to keep track of who is who in any given moment.
Sound design by Gareth Owen is solid, with a strong balance throughout, including the mixing of the cast with the live band on stage. Costumes by designer Toni-Leslie James and hair by designer David Brian Brown are well-suited to their respective characters. Pieces are added as needed to distinguish the many different roles the actors play, beyond their main characters, and the hats, jackets, scarves, and more do a great job of helping the audience to keep track of who is who in any given moment.
National Touring Production of COME FROM AWAY 2024-25 (Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Come From Away is a fast-paced, engaging, brilliant show that tugs on your heartstrings while also making you laugh. It’s a beautiful mixture of emotions brought on by a powerful story that you don’t want to miss. Catch the national tour of Come From Away at a theatre near you!
Come From Away played April 4-5, 2025, at The Palace Theatre in Waterbury, CT. Learn more about upcoming programming at the Palace and purchase tickets at palacetheaterct.org or by calling the Box Office at (203) 346-2000. For more information and upcoming dates for the Come From Away national tour, visit comefromaway.com.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
Come From Away played April 4-5, 2025, at The Palace Theatre in Waterbury, CT. Learn more about upcoming programming at the Palace and purchase tickets at palacetheaterct.org or by calling the Box Office at (203) 346-2000. For more information and upcoming dates for the Come From Away national tour, visit comefromaway.com.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.