ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Broadway in Wichita series is set to kick off for 2024, and the first show of the year will be “Come From Away.”
The national tour of "Come From Away" will be making its way to the Century II Concert Hall in Wichita with performances taking place Jan. 26 (8 p.m.), Jan. 27 (2 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and Jan. 28 (8 p.m). The show tells the true story of 7,000 people from many different countries and walks of life who were stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland after all flights into the US were grounded the week of Sept. 11, 2001. As the people of Newfoundland graciously welcome the 'come from aways' into their community in the aftermath, the passengers and locals alike process what’s happened while finding love, laughter, and new hope in the unlikely and lasting bonds they forge. As cast member Andrew Hendrick tells it, there is a lot of excitement surrounding bringing the show to Wichita.
“We're really just excited to bring the show to as many places and people as possible because it's got a really wonderful message about human kindness and generosity that's applicable to anywhere in the world. It's so wonderful to tell the story of this show to anyone and everyone we can, so the audiences of Wichita are in for a real treat,” Hendrick said. “The show has now been around for a few years, it debuted on Broadway in 2017, and it's definitely a show that's gotten its reputation by word of mouth, which is kind of the dream for any Broadway show. It's an original show, it's something people might not have heard of before, and I can't tell you how many times I've heard afterward 'OMG you HAVE to see this show, it's SO good!' The reason I think people will want to come see this show is because the story's compelling, it's got music that's just absolutely gorgeous for a Broadway show, and I love performing it. It's a great story about what happened in the aftermath of one of the darkest days in U.S. history, and we try to make sure people think of 'Come From Away' as the '9/12 musical' instead of the '9/11 musical' because it's all about the goodness that came out of the people of this community.”
Hendrick added the chance to be part of the national tour cast is rather a dream come true.
“I've been part of the show since September 2023, and that's when the new North American national tour began. However, I've been a fan of the show since before it hit Broadway because there were several workshops and all of that work that goes into a musical,” Hendrick said. “I first saw the show in Toronto in 2014 and immediately fell in love with it and became obsessed with it, and then the opportunity came for me in early 2023 to audition for the national tour, and I was very fortunate to be named to the cast. By the time we get to Wichita, I believe I'll have been part of 100 performances, give or take, and it's been amazing. I've been to Wichita with a few other shows in the past with different tours, and I've enjoyed it every time. Century II is a beautiful venue and I can't wait to bring a different story to the audiences of Wichita. Wichita is also a great place to go on walks, which is something I enjoy because that's how I enjoy getting to know a city.”
Hendrick said audiences will come away with multiple emotions after the show.
“It's actually a pretty difficult show for the performers, and everyone puts 100 percent into it every show. The show uses 12 actors to take on a total of more than 100 individual characters, and it's an incredible piece of theatre and storytelling,” Hendrick said. “It's that difficulty that really makes the show for me because I switch between characters and accents and points of view throughout the show. We're a very tight-knit group on the road, there's the 12 cast members plus our six standbys/alternates and nine musicians who are part of the show right along with us onstage. I also really enjoy watching the audience's reactions to everything going on onstage, and 'Come From Away' is definitely a show that hits ALL the feelings – you'll laugh, you'll probably cry, but at the end of the show, you'll leave the theater with a sense of there being so much kindness and good people in the world who are willing to help. In this day and age, it's great to leave a show with that mindset and feeling good.”
Overall, Hendrick said, he hopes everyone who comes to see the show ends up having a great time.
“Come to have a good time, because this show has a place for everyone. Just come out and see the show, I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed!” Hendrick said.
