Come From Away coming to St. John's in January

Come From Away is coming to St. John's in January, with a streamlined version of the hit musical about passengers who were stranded in the Gander area in theimmediate aftermath of 9/11.

Holy Heart Theatre will host eight benefit performances of the show, featuring the musical's Toronto cast.

The St. John's performances willbe a concert version of the musical, which also continues to draw audiences on Broadway.

The eight performanceswon't have Come From Away's signature rotating stage which can't be accommodated at Holy Heart but will provide as much of the full experience as possible on a modified set, said Cheryl Hickman of Opera on the Avalon.

"It's as much as they can bring of the show as possible," Hickman said.

MirvishProductions said audiences will be in for a treat.

"Come From Away In Concertfeatures the entire script, songs and musical score, performed by the acclaimed all-Canadian cast of the Toronto production," the companytold CBCNews in a statement.

"The only elements missing are the set and lighting design, and some of the choreography. Otherwise it is the same show and experience."

Tickets go on sale Tuesday

The performances will run from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27, during the gap when the Toronto production is moved fromthe Royal Alexandra Theatre to the Elgin Theatre.

Tickets for the St. John's shows will go on sale at 10a.m. on Oct.16.

The dates and times for the performances are as follows:

• Wednesday, Jan.23at1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

• Thursday, Jan.24at1:30 p.m. and7:30 p.m.

• Friday, Jan.25at7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, Jan.26at1:30 p.m. and7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Jan.27at1:30 p.m.

Tickets will cost between $29 and $99, plus tax.

Cast to visit Gander after shows

The cast will visit Gander for a day, after the St. John's productions, before heading back to Toronto to continue the show's run there.

"We canvassed the cast and band to find out if they would be willing to travel and perform in what otherwise would have been a holiday week for them," said Toronto producer David Mirvish in a news release.

"Before we could finish our request, all of them were jumping for joy at the opportunity to visit Newfoundland."

The net proceeds from the performances will go to the six towns Gander,Gambo, Appleton, Lewisporte, Norris Arm and Glenwood that hosted the 7,000 passengers who landed at Gander International Airport after the Sept. 11, 2001terrorist attacks.

Money will also go to the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Community Food Sharing Association.

The show previously was performed by its original cast for an audience of 5,000 in Gander, before it opened in New York City or Toronto. That was also a concert performance, with the cast lined up at microphones instead of performing on its signature spinning stage used in the New York and Toronto productions.

Read more articles from CBCNewfoundland and Labrador