Musical about goodwill in 9/11 aftermath opens at Engeman Theater in Northport
The musical tells the story of the 7,000 stranded airline passengers who were welcomed with open arms in the wake of tragedy.
A musical about goodwill in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks opened at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.
Paul Novack and Chris Maxwell were returning to JFK from Ireland on 9/11 when their plane was diverted to Canada.
“Thirty-eight jumbo jets were diverted to the town of Gander, a very small town in Newfoundland," said Scott Weinstein, director of the musical "Come From Away."
The generosity and kindness of the people of this Canadian province were the inspiration for the musical.
The musical tells the story of the 7,000 stranded airline passengers who were welcomed with open arms in the wake of tragedy.
The Northport theater opened its season with the production, which is critically acclaimed on Broadway.
Christina Decicco plays Beverly Bass, the first female captain for American Airlines.
“It’s really incredible to take all of the sadness that comes from a day like today and a day like Sept. 11 and tell how humanity was at its best, and that's what come from away is really about," says Decicco, of Rockville Centre.
The husband of another actress in the musical, Suzanne Mason, was an NYPD first responder but was not at the World Trade Center.
“I’m very lucky, so this show is so special for me to celebrate all the amazing people who came together here and in Gander,” said Mason.
“The greatest asset that any community has is its people…it’s about kindness, generosity and I believe in the world we live today is what’s missing and we need to bring more of that back," said Claude Elliott, who was the mayor of Gander during 9/11.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 631-261-2900, visiting www.engemantheater.com or in person at the box office located at 250 Main St. in Northport Village.
