Dear Friends,

Welcome to Seattle Rep’s 10th anniversary production of Come From Away! Whether you're revisiting this extraordinary musical or experiencing it for the first time, thank you for choosing to spend part of your holiday season with us at the theater. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away had its 2015 world premiere (co-produced with La Jolla Playhouse) right here in the Bagley Wright Theater before becoming a worldwide sensation.

Since then, Come From Away has taken its place in the modern musical canon—garnering Tony, Olivier, and Drama Desk Awards, and inspiring audiences from Broadway to the West End, from Melbourne to Gander itself. As its global tour came to an end in 2025, the show’s creators made the show available to professional regional theaters around the country and welcomed new casts and creative teams to create original productions. The result? American Theatre Magazine announced that Come From Away will be the most produced show in the country this season, with 23 original productions lighting up stages nationwide. We knew Seattle Rep had to be part of this national celebration. And what better way to honor its 10th anniversary than to return to the place where it all began—and to offer a fresh, locally rooted interpretation that reflects both our artistic community and the very heart of the piece?

_{The cast of Come From Away in rehearsal (2025). Photo by Sayed Alamy.}

We’re thrilled to welcome back long-time Seattle theater maker Brandon Ivie to direct our 10th anniversary reimagining. Known for his innovative actor-musician approach to a variety of musicals, Ivie (who directed the renowned 2015 Lizard Boy—another Seattle Rep world premiere musical) brings a heightened complexity to the show’s already brilliant storytelling. With instruments in hand, our cast of actors become not only the tellers of the tale, but the music-makers alongside the band. This folk rock/Celtic blend of music—so central to the show’s impact—springs directly from the community on stage, echoing the spirit of neighborliness, cooperation, and hopeful resilience that defines the town of Gander and the people who were stranded there.

For those unfamiliar, Come From Away tells the true story of what happened when 38 planes were unexpectedly grounded in Newfoundland on September 11, 2001. Nearly 7,000 passengers were welcomed by a town of barely 10,000, who opened their homes, their schools, and their hearts. In the face of unthinkable tragedy, they showed the world what compassion looks like.

Ivie’s vision embraces the essence of Come From Away as a gathering—a community remembering together the shared experience of a decade past, celebrating, grieving, singing, and playing music together to capture a moment. This actor-musician interpretation offers a new take on the show while staying rooted in its emotional core and form: a mosaic of humanity at its very best.

_{The cast of Come From Away in performance (2025). Photo by Bronwen Houck.}

We’re proud to offer this homegrown production as a milestone in Seattle Rep’s—and the city of Seattle’s—theatrical history. A decade ago, this musical began its journey here. Now, we welcome it home, not just as a piece of theater, but as a reminder: that in the darkest moments, we can still find light in each other.

From all of us at Seattle Rep, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon in 2026!

Until next time,

Dámaso Rodríguez
Artistic Director

See Seattle Rep's 10th-anniversary staging of Come From Away for yourself, now playing through Jan. 4, 2026.

Tickets