From March 6 to March 8, the Queen’s Court Company (QCC) put on four performances of “Come From Away,” a musical that tells the uplifting story of the 38 planes that got diverted to Gandar, Newfoundland, following the events of 9/11. While the story recognizes the tragic effects of the terrorist attacks, the musical focuses on the kindness and generosity of Newfoundland residents who welcomed 7,000 passengers from all over the world.
The QCC showcased this beautiful story after months of hard work and dedication. The rehearsal process was a different experience for the cast and crew, due to many bumps in the road. With their production scheduled a week earlier than normal, they hit their first challenge when rehearsals were delayed by a week due to difficulties securing the rights to the show. With five snow days added to the mix, the cast and crew were under considerable pressure to prepare the show in time. Ultimately, bringing this story to life was only made possible through a collaborative effort–an outcome that reflects the central theme of “Come From Away” itself.
QCC Director Mrs. Ellen Phillips spoke about the combined effort and teamwork that allowed the cast and crew to put on four amazing performances: “‘Come From Away’ was a team effort. Every one of us, from the cast, to the crew to the ‘Newfoundband’, all felt the pressure of this experience as well as the reward from hard work. Everything came together on opening night, and we told an incredible story. It was and always will be an extremely proud directorial moment for me.”
One of the most crucial components of the musical is the pit, also known as the “Newfoundband”, for this musical in particular. “Come From Away” was a challenge for the pit because of the 37 songs the musicians had to learn in a short period of time. Often overlooked, the pit musicians deserve far more recognition for their involvement in the production. They must precisely synchronize the music with each line of the show, while remaining prepared to adjust if an actor makes a mistake. Constantly listening for exact line cues for their entrances adds a whole other layer of complexity to their performance.
Pit leader Izzy Garrison ‘26, detailed her experience with this show when she shared, “Being a part of the pit for “Come From Away” was really special this year. The score for this show was unique and unlike most shows done by high school orchestras, with some of us having to transpose, double up on instruments or learn how to play new ones entirely. Despite the specific and tightly written score and shortened time to rehearse, our main focus remained the same: play with confidence and support one another. Strumming my last chord on closing night was a bittersweet moment. It was sad to know that this would be my last time playing with the NewfoundBand, but it is amazing to see how far we have come since day one. I could not be prouder of the girls in the pit and am so glad I have had the chance to be leader for the past two years.”
Following this show's success, the QCC received well-deserved praise from the real captain of the American Airlines flight that landed in Newfoundland on 9/11. Captain Beverly Bass reached out to the cast and crew through Facebook to extend her congratulations and gratitude.
Even though it is always difficult for the Queen’s Court Company to say goodbye to a show once it is over, it is even more difficult to say goodbye to the seniors. We are incredibly proud of the hard work of all cast and crew members. The lasting memories they leave behind have made a great impact on our Arts community, and we are proud of all of the accomplishments from this production!