The musical "Come From Away," which depicts the efforts of a small Canadian town to assist thousands of stranded travelers following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is being featured in international productions. The show is based on the account of Gander, Newfoundland, where residents provided housing, food, and support to approximately 7,000 passengers and crew members after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all air traffic, forcing 38 international flights to land at the local airport.
The production was created by the writing team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein, who conducted research and interviews during a 10th-anniversary reunion in Gander in 2011. After debuting in La Jolla, California, in 2015, the show opened on Broadway in March 2017 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. It ran for five and a half years, winning a Tony Award for best director and three Drama Desk Awards. A live capture of the Broadway production was later released on Apple TV+.
The musical uses an ensemble cast of 12 actors to portray both the "plane people" and the local Newfoundlanders. While many characters are based directly on specific individuals—such as Captain Beverley Bass, the first female American Airlines captain—others are composites of the 16,000 people involved in the event. Critics have offered varying assessments of the show; some have praised its message of compassion as a "tonic in troubled times," while others have characterized it as "sentimental" or criticized its distance from the actual attack sites.
For the town of Gander, the musical has shifted its public image and driven tourism, with travelers visiting to see the locations depicted in the show. For theater professionals, the show’s filming during the COVID-19 pandemic provided employment for a cast, crew, and band. It has seen productions in Korea, Sweden, Japan, Argentina, and China.
Educators report using the musical to explain the tragedy to younger generations, focusing on the "helpers" rather than the attacks themselves. Some viewers from New York have expressed resentment, suggesting the show co-opted a local tragedy or implied that one had to travel 1,500 miles from the attack sites to find acts of decency. However, creators Sankoff and Hein state that the show is intended as a reminder of international cooperation and human kindness during crises.
The musical utilizes interview transcripts to form its book and lyrics. Its success has led to its use in commemorations, such as a free concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., for the 20th anniversary of the attacks. International licensing continues to expand, with a production recently planned for performances in China.