Penn State’s Center for the Performing Arts performance of the Broadway musical “Come From Away” was Tuesday night in Eisenhower Auditorium. The musical is currently touring the nation.

“Come From Away” by Irene Sankoff and David Hein debuted on Broadway in 2017. The musical follows the true story of a small town called Gander in Newfoundland, Canada, after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Sita Frederick, the director of the Center for the Performing Arts, worked alongside others to curate the season’s selections of musicals. She said they like to pick entertaining shows with a deep meaning behind them.

Frederick was excited to have the story of “Come From Away” be told on their stage for the first time at Penn State.

“There are so many places in the world that are really facing so much and so to have these stories of people … coming together and showing up for each other in such beautiful ways (is exciting),” Frederick said.

Heather Longley, the marketing communications specialist, at the Center for the Performing Arts said touring Broadway is always popular, and “Come From Away” is a huge hit with audiences. She said the story is universal.

“There are themes of empathy, kindness and generosity, paying it forward and opening your heart to someone,” Longley said. “The characters are based on real people, and their stories are real.”

According to Longley, the diversity in perspectives from the audience was interesting but the feedback was “overwhelmingly positive,” and the show was sold out.

“There are younger people who don’t have the same recollection and context of Sept. 11 as the older people do,” Longley said.

Penn State Alumni and “Come From Away Music” director Harry Collins started his career in the children’s chorus for the Australian Opera. He said it “cemented” his love for theater.

“Music direction came later. I remember playing in my high school orchestra and looking at the conductor thinking, ‘I can do that,’” Collins said. “When I played in a production of The Producers I thought ‘I can do that too!’ I think that’s where it started.”

Collins completed his MFA at Penn State and said his time at the university was “awesome.” It was his first time moving away from Sydney, Australia.

“I had the dual experience of moving to a foreign country and studying music direction full time,” Collins said. “The community at the school of theater is so warm and welcoming. I definitely made friends for life there.”

After his time at Penn State, Collins said he was looking for jobs in the “real world” when his supervisor got an email for Music Director applicants for the Come From Away tour.

“I applied, sent some audition tapes in, had an interview and voila,” Collins said.

As music director, Collins is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the show, giving notes and conducting the show. He said he couldn’t ask for a better cast, crew or band to work with.

“’Come From Away’ is a wonderful show,” Collins said. “As was mentioned to us early in the rehearsal process, the sense of community and kindness inherent in the story really does produce a very positive atmosphere both on- and off-stage.”

He said although the story of the show is very special to a lot of people, he thinks the reason for the show’s success is the book, music and lyrics.

“Almost the entire show is sung or underscored, which gives it a sort of ‘filmic’ quality, and lends itself to a very cohesive product,” Collins said. 

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