COME FROM AWAY to Play Winnipeg in January 2018, Prior to Toronto 2018 Engagement

The Canadian-written new musical Come From Away, a sold-out smash hit in Toronto and newly opened to great reviews and sold-out houses on Broadway, is set to take Winnipeg by storm, filling in the much-anticipaTEd Royal MTC Mainstage Slot Three for the 2017/18 season.

In a heartbeat, 38 planes and 6,579 passengers were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, doubling the population of one small town on the edge of the world.

On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.

"For the first time in my 28-year tenure as Artistic Director, we announced our season with a TBA. We can think of few other projects that would have been worth the wait. This uplifting musical may have Come From Away but we know Friendly Manitobans will be happy to clear it for landing." said Royal MTC Artistic Director Steven Schipper.

Background to the Show

COME FROM AWAY began life when Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein visited Gander, NL, in September 2011 for the tenth anniversary events of September 11th. They spoke with the townspeople and with the thousands of air travellers who suddenly landed there after air space was closed following the tragic events at the World Trade Centre in New York.

Under the auspices of Junkyard Dog Productions, the musical was originally co-produced in 2015 at La Jolla Playhouse in California and at Seattle Repertory Theatre in Washington, where it received stellar reviews and played to sold-out houses.

Based on the success of the show in these two cities, Junkyard Dogs announced a Broadway production of Come From Away, with two prior-to-Broadway stops. In September and October 2016, it was presented at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, and was a critical and sell-out success.

It then travelled to Toronto from November 2016 to January 2017, where it broke box-office records at the legendary Royal Alexandra Theatre, which has hosted every major theatrical show in its 120-year-old history.

In these prior-to-Broadway engagements, the musical landed on the "Best Theatre of the Year" lists in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Seattle Times, San Diego Union Tribune, the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

Between the musical's Washington and Toronto engagements, Come From Away made a very special stop for two concert performances of the entire show in Gander, NL. The creators and company of the musical wanted the local people, many of whom are depicted in the show, to see it before the production was seen in Toronto and New York. The concerts, performed at the local arena for a crowd of 4,000, with all proceeds going to local charities made international news. Even the New York Times added these concerts to its list of "Memorable Theatre of 2016."

COME FROM AWAY had its Broadway premiere on March 12, 2017 and received rave reviews and international attention.

But even before the Broadway engagement began, based on the show's extraordinary reception in Toronto, David Mirvish and Junkyard Dog Productions announced they would mount a Second Company of Come From Away to begin performances at Toronto's Royal Alexandra in February 2018.

Now, before opening in Toronto, David Mirvish and Junkyard Dog Productions are delighted to announce this new company of Come From Away will play in Winnipeg at Royal MTC for a strictly limited four-week engagement.

Says David Mirvish: "Royal MTC has been a longtime partner and friend, so we are very happy to have our new company of this extraordinary musical play in Winnipeg first."

Adds Royal MTC Artistic Director Steven Schipper: "Many thanks to Mirvish and Junkyard for welcoming us to this celebration of humanity, and to all those subscribers who renewed on faith."

About the Show

With a book, music and lyrics by Canadians Irene Sankoff & David Hein, Come From Away is directed by Tony Award nominee Christopher Ashley (Memphis), with musical staging by Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (Rocky), music supervision by Ian Eisendrath (A Christmas Story), scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt (Act One), costume design by Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James (Jelly's Last Jam), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Hamilton), sound design by Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen (End of the Rainbow), orchestrations by August Eriksmoen (Bright Star), and music arrangements by Ian Eisendrath.

COME FROM AWAY is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff and Sue Frost), Jerry Frankel, Latitude Link, Smith & Brant Theatricals, Steve & Paula Reynolds, David Mirvish, Michael Rubinoff, Alhadeff Productions, Michael Alden & Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Sam Levy, Rodney Rigby, Spencer Ross, Richard Winkler, Yonge Street Theatricals, Sheridan College, Michael & Ellise Coit, Ronald Frankel, Sheri & Les Biller, Richard Belkin, Gary & Marlene Cohen, Allan Detsky & Rena Mendelson, Lauren Doll, Barbara H. Freitag, Wendy Gillespie, Laura Little Theatricals, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Radio Mouse Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Gwen Arment/Molly Morris & Terry McNicholas, Maureen & Joel Benoliel/Marjorie & Ron Danz, Pamela Cooper/Corey Brunish, Demos Bizar/Square 1 Theatrics, Joshua Goodman/Lauren Stevens, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams Productions, Bill & Linda Potter/Rosemary & Kenneth Willman, and La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre.

COME FROM AWAY was developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project (Michael Rubinoff Producer, Sheridan College in Oakville, ON), and was further developed at Goodspeed Musicals' Festival of New Artists, in East Haddam, CT. It was also part of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in New York 2013. The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, and the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA, also provided development support.

ROYAL MTC SUBSCRIBERS GET THE BEST SEATS AT THE BEST PRICE

Subscription packages for the 2017/18 season start at $162, and current Royal MTC subscribers can renew until April 8 by calling the Box Office at 204 942 6537 (toll-free at 1 877 446 4500), visiting 174 Market Avenue or our website royalmtc.ca

Subscription benefits include a substantial savings over single ticket prices, easy monthly instalment plans as well as dining and retail discounts in the theatre district. Extended and final deadline for current subscribers is April 8.

New subscriptions go on sale to the general public May 1, groups go on sale on June 19 and single tickets go on sale on July 31.

For ticket showtimes and ticket information, call the Royal MTC Box Office at 204 942 6537, toll-free at 1 877 446 4500 or visit www.royalmtc.ca.