It's a new Broadway-bound musical set against the backdrop of 9/11. In this On Stage report, NY1's Frank DiLella has a behind the scenes look at "Come From Away," now playing at The Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C.
"People find out and they say, 'Oh, you're doing a musical about 9/11' and we say you have to see it," actor Chad Kimball says.
The artists behind the Broadway-bound show "Come From Away" want to make it known; their show is not a 9/11 musical - rather a 9/12 one.
The docu-style piece of theater is currently playing at The Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. The musical is based on the true story of a community in Newfoundland that embraced almost 7,000 people when 38 planes were diverted to the Canadian province after the airspace closed down in the days following September 11, 2001.
"Five years ago, we were in the Gander Community hockey rink trying desperately to talk to anyone who would talk to us - not sure what we were doing ourselves - to collect these stories to put this musical together," co-creator Irene Sankoff says.
The text of the musical is pulled from the stories of the people who were in Newfoundland during the days immediately following 9/11. Actress Jenn Colella plays a handful of characters in the community and American Airlines pilot Beverly Bass, who landed one of the planes in Newfoundland.
"We're telling the story and then we let everyone else feel whatever comes up for them," Colella says.
The ensemble-based musical also features Tony nominee for "Memphis" actor Chad Kimball.
"You get into theater to affect change in people, and what better way and what better time to affect change in people than a story about the aftermath of 9/11 and the humanity - the good humanity - that was involved?" Kimball says.
Following its run at The Ford's Theater, "Come From Away" will play Gander - the town where the show is set. The musical will begin previews on Broadway in February, with an opening night set for March 12.