The Power of an All-In Ensemble
I had the joy of seeing The Keeton Theatre’s production of Come From Away this past weekend. I have to say, this cast proves the magic that can happen when every actor is fully committed to bringing their absolute best while also fully supporting the highlighted moments of their castmates. From the very opening number of “Welcome to the Rock” the audience is slapped in the face (in a good way) with powerful vocals and an energy that is absolutely electric as the cast lines the downstage for their ending tableau moment. The changes from scene to scene were flawless as the performers went from a Tim Hortons to the inside of airplanes and everything in between. A clear indication that the work of director, Susan Walsworth and choreographer, McKenna Driver created a seamless flow for their performers. It’s no wonder they were met with a well-deserved, immediate standing ovation after the final note of the finale!
As Donna Driver mentioned in her pre-show curtain speech, although 9/11 was a tragic event, this musical shares about a positive side of humanity that came in response to it. Director Walsworth gives the perfect description of the show in her From the Director message of the Playbill: “What most people don’t know is that when the American airspace closed, 38 planes with passengers traveling from all around the world were diverted to the small town of Gander in Newfoundland. This fast-paced musical tells the story of the real-life people of this town as well as the stories of the people who were flying that day. Twelve actors portray multiple characters and tell this story of kindness, love, and loss.”
The ensemble assembles for another powerful moment of storytelling.
Photo Credit: Jenna Anderson
Everyone in this production was incredible but I do want to point out some highlights. Brian Best, as Claude, the Mayor of Gander and others, has a stage presence that draws you in and makes you want to join the party. What talent! I was blown away by his consistent energy throughout the entire show. I would love to see him take on future roles that continue to offer show stopping moments like The Man in the Yellow Suit in Tuck Everlasting. Another standout was Jayden Murphy as Bob and others. His performance truly offered a masterclass in how to equally present high-quality singing and acting. Sometimes in musicals, people tend to focus more on their vocals than their acting. This was not a trap that Mr. Murphy fell into. As I watched him throughout the show, I noticed that he was always in character and reacting to the subtext of what was occurring even when he had no dialogue or solos. It comes as no surprise to me that he will be heading to Juilliard for further studies. I see a bright future for his career and it felt like a true gift to witness his perform live.
Jayden Murphy as Bob and Others.
Photo Credit: Jenna Anderson
Leslie King was excellent as the ASPCA animal loving Bonnie and others. For playing a character with an outspoken personality, King was also able to show such dynamic contrast and vulnerabilities throughout the performance. Being on stage seems so second nature to her that you believe she could be nobody else except for each role that she is portraying. Melissa Silengo delivered the powerhouse vocals necessary for Beverly’s “Me and the Sky” and I found her portrayal of the flirtatious Annette to be comically endearing as she exaggerated her rendezvous with a handsome pilot. Jason Scott, as Kevin T and others provided a lovely rendition of the hymn, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” within the requiem of “Prayer”. I so enjoyed his lighthearted presentation of Kevin T as he decided to make the best of his situation and to be open to new experiences and friendships. I laughed out loud when he said, “I’ll risk it!” before deciding to kiss the fish during the rousing “Screech In” scene.
The town council of Gander, Newfoundland, come together to hear the pleas of their mayor as they figure out how to meet the needs of nearly 7,000 stranded passengers from around the world.
Photo Credit: Jenna Anderson
Ashlie Welte-Lopez as Diane from Texas paired well with Ben Gregory’s Nick, the British businessman who fell in love. Welte-Lopez has a stunning voice and I’d love to hear more from her in the future. I was particularly impressed with Gregory’s ability to sift through the various dialects that his track of roles demanded. Jack Joiner provided fantastic comedic relief as Oz the friendly police officer trying to be helpful. The highlight of Justin Tinker’s performance for me was his portrayal of Ali. He gave a compelling depiction of the vulnerability during the discrimination that so many people from the Middle East faced post 9/11 as people reacted out of fear of the unknown. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when Yolanda Treece, Hannah, told Stephanie Jackson, Beaulah, about the fate of her son. Treece and Jackson’s portrayal of these incredible women brought out their raw humanity, and it was life giving to this story. Claire Yancey as Janice and others knocked this reporter role out of park, showcasing her very real moments of being overwhelmed and finding her footing as a young journalist thrust into covering a major story on day one of the job.
Music Director Trey Lundquist is to be commended for having the music in this show prepared to a Broadway level quality. The band was located on both sides of the stage which made for a very engaging experience. Kudos must be given to Kevin Driver, Technical Director, and Steve Love, Sound Design and Engineer, for providing sound that allowed for the audience to clearly hear the dialogues that shift at a rapid pace throughout this show. This is a musical that will fall apart without a great stage manager, so I am also giving props to Kaleigh Ruiz who is clearly a master of her craft.
Come From Away is showing now through August 30th, 2026. For more information, go to: www.thekeeton.org
If you would like to read more about the true story this musical is based on, go to: Come From Away | The True Story | Official Site