With files provided by the Grand Theatre
The Grand Theatre is closing out its 2025/26 Season with a new London Made production of the beloved Canadian musical, Come From Away. Director Julie Tomaino returns to the Grand to lead a new vision and an all-star Canadian company.
“How do you re-imagine a show when the original is so well-known? What makes a non-replica production great? These were the questions that lived in my brain when I started dreaming about our production. What to do with this iconic, practically perfect, original production?” says Tomaino. “We are honouring what makes Come From Away special while also reimagining what that looks like.”
(Pictured: Come From Away Director, Julie Tomaino.)
At the heart of it, are the words inscribed on the wall at Gander International Airport, and a powerful visual to represent both individual identity and shared connection.
“You Are Here – a simple phrase that means so many things. You Are Here is Gander, You Are Here is symbolically every passenger forced into the present moment due to unimaginable tragedy, You Are Here is Canada. Iconic red chairs mark more than 100 locations throughout Canada’s national parks, marking You Are Here in this beautiful country,” shares Tomaino. “The Parks Canada red chairs originated in Newfoundland, where our story takes place. We ran with it – making chairs the centrepiece of our production, representing individuals from all over the world, representing countries, religious backgrounds, and communities.”
Come From Away at the Grand Theatre is London Made exclusively for this production by the Grand Theatre Scenic, Props, and Wardrobe Teams and is run by a talented London stage crew including audio, lighting, scenic automation, dressers, and stagehands.
(Pictured: Come From Away Set Designer, Scott Penner.)
Set Designer Scott Penner’s bold, expansive vision for the set called for more than 180 wooden chairs – all on stage at once, mounted on towering 23-foot walls. London and area answered this call, with community members rallying behind social media posts, quickly donating as many as were needed and some to spare!
“In programming this show, and in the incredible response I have had from Londoners in their excitement to come and see this brand-new London-made production, I can feel that sense of coming together,” shares Rachel Peake, Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre. “In addition to the impact of these incredible stories, tunes, and performances, I believe the sense of community it creates is this show’s greatest gift.”
(Pictured: Cast of Come From Away. Photo: Dahlia Katz.)
The Canadian cast of Come From Away at the Grand Theatre includes Darrin Baker as Claude, Divine Brown as Hannah, Sheldon Elter as Oz, Izad Etemadi as Kevin T, Joema Frith as Bob, Steven Gallagher as Nick, Andrew Hodwitz as Standby, Kelly Holiff as Janice, Lori Nancy Kalamanski as Diane, Heather McGuigan as Standby, Denise Oucharek as Bonnie, Darlene Spencer as Beulah, Cailin Stadnyk as Beverley, Alex Wierzbicki as Kevin J, and Travae Williams as Standby.
Each member of the cast will play additional roles beyond those named above – twelve performers on stage at a time, telling the stories of hundreds.
Working alongside Director Julie Tomaino, is a creative team recruited from across the country including Music Director Sarah Richardson, Choreographer Nicol Spinola, Set Designer Scott Penner, Costume Designer Ming Wong 黄慧明,Lighting Designer Jareth Li, Sound Designer Brian Kenny, Intimacy Director Dani Jazzar, and Stage Manager Erika Morey – and more including a quartet of Dialect Coaches.
Richardson will conduct the live orchestra performing on the stage, including herself on Keyboard and Accordion, Matt Ballagh on Mandolin, Dale-Anne Brendon on Drums, Jennifer Cahill on Whistles, Romano Di Nillo on Bodhrán, Stephen Ingram on Guitar, Erik Larson on Bass, and Devon Martene on Fiddle.
Creative Team
Julie Tomaino – Director
Sarah Richardson – Music Director
Nicol Spinola – Choreographer
Scott Penner – Set Designer
Ming Wong 黄慧明 – Costume Designer
Jareth Li – Lighting Designer
Brian Kenny – Sound Designer
Dani Jazzar – Intimacy Director
Hailey Hill – Assistant Director
Dariusz Korbiel – Associate Set Designer
Ziad Ek – Dialect Coach
Adam Henderson – Dialect Coach
Robin Hutton – Dialect Coach
Teo Owang – Dialect Coach
Erika Morey – Stage Manager
Suzanne McArthur – Assistant Stage Manager
Abby Stevenson – Apprentice Stage Manager
Cast
Darrin Baker – Claude and Others
Divine Brown – Hannah and Others
Sheldon Elter – Oz and Others
Izad Etemadi – Kevin T and Others
Joema Frith – Bob and Others
Steven Gallagher – Nick and Others
Andrew Hodwitz – Standby
Kelly Holiff – Janice and Others
Lori Nancy Kalamanski – Diane and Others
Heather McGuigan – Standby
Denise Oucharek – Bonnie and Others
Darlene Spencer – Beulah and Others
Cailin Stadnyk – Beverley and Others
Alex Wierzbicki – Kevin J and Others
Travae Williams – Standby
Orchestra
Sarah Richardson – Conductor / Keyboard / Accordion
Matt Ballagh – Mandolin
Dale-Anne Brendon – Drums
Jennifer Cahill – Whistles
Romano Di Nillo – Bodhrán
Stephen Ingram – Guitar
Erik Larson – Bass
Devon Martene – Fiddle
IF YOU GO:
Come From Away plays on the Spriet Stage at the Grand Theatre from April 28 to May 31. Single tickets are priced starting at $29.95 and are available in-person at the Box Office, by phone at 519.672.8800, and online at grandtheatre.com/event/come-from-away.
Watch Julie Tomaino To talk Come From Away: https://youtu.be/jvD1UU5NbP4?si=1iQBeELX6cy0Zr8X
To learn more about Come From Away at the Grand Theatre, please visit grandtheatre.com/event/come-from-away. Follow the production and peek behind the scenes by following @thegrandlondon and #GrandAway on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, TikTok, & Substack.
The Beat Magazine 2025 