Coal City Theatre opens its production of “Come From Away” at the Coal City Performing Arts Center on Sept. 10, timed to the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with additional performances set for Sept. 12 and Sept. 13. The student cast, under director Jack Micetich, is staging the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, a town of about 10,000 people that took in thousands of stranded airline passengers after U.S. airspace closed on 9/11. Tickets are $10 and available in advance online through the theatre department.
The production carries an unusual credential for a high school show: it has a connection to an original Broadway cast member. Sharon Wheatley, who originated the role of Diane throughout the musical’s entire Broadway run and later appeared in the 2021 Apple TV+ film adaptation, according to Wikipedia, is part of the musical’s Broadway pedigree. It's the kind of direct link to Broadway that few school programs can claim before their own opening night.
As reported by Shaw Local, Micetich said the story remains powerful and meaningful, and the cast includes students Cora Armstrong, Charlotte Banks, Bella Bartholomew, Maddox Meents, Theo Fritz, Brady Pierson, Alex Collins, Brody D'Orazio and Penny D'Arcy, with Maxx Kramer portraying Gander Mayor Claude Elliott. Performances begin at 7 p.m. except for the Sunday matinee, which starts at 2 p.m., and the show itself runs 90 minutes, dramatizing what the same report describes as a 34-hour international sleepover and the bonds formed between strangers.
A Recent Licensing Shift Opened the Door
Coal City’s staging is possible in part because of a licensing change just months old. Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International officially released “Come From Away” for broad licensing in the United States and Canada in November 2025, according to Broadway News. Upon the release, creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein said community stages are where the show’s story of kindness belongs, the outlet reported. The decision made the show available to more theaters.
The musical’s Broadway pedigree is well established. “Come From Away” opened on Broadway in March 2017, logged 1,670 performances before closing in October 2022, and received seven Tony Award nominations, with Christopher Ashley winning Best Direction of a Musical, per Broadway News. The show also became the longest-running production in the history of Broadway’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, according to Broadway in Bound.
An Elite Program Building on Past Success
An Elite Program Building on Past Success Coal City’s theatre department arrives at this production with fresh acclaim. In May, the department won the Best Production award for its staging of “Frozen.” The department is led by Micetich.
The show is staged at the Coal City Performing Arts Center.
The Real Gander, and the Scale of Operation Yellow Ribbon
The musical’s backdrop is a real emergency response that reshaped a small Canadian town overnight. Operation Yellow Ribbon, launched by Transport Canada on Sept. 11, 2001, diverted between 225 and 240 international civilian flights carrying tens of thousands of passengers to 17 Canadian airports after U.S. airspace was closed, per Wikipedia. It marked the first time Canadian airspace was shut down to departing flights.
Gander International Airport alone received approximately 6,600 passengers and crew, according to AeroCorner. Gander residents welcomed travelers stranded for several days, per the same account.
Part of a Nationwide Wave of Anniversary Stagings
Part of a Nationwide Wave of Anniversary Stagings Coal City’s run joins a broader pattern of theaters marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 through this particular musical. Orlando Shakes in Florida is among the theaters associated with an anniversary production. On Sept. 13, a concert is also mentioned in connection with the anniversary programming.
