Entertainment One (eOne) today announced that it will produce and finance a live filming of the Tony Award® winning Broadway musical, Come From Away in anticipation of a September 2021 release. In both recognition of the quality of the show and in support of currently shuttered theatrical stage production community, the production will take place this May in the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City where the Broadway production is staged. Due to COVID-19, performances of the Broadway production have been suspended since March 12, 2020, the eve of the musical’s 3rd Anniversary. eOne acquired the rights to Come From Away in 2017.
The live filming of the Tony Award winning musical Come From Away will feature cast members from the Broadway production, and will employ over 222 people including the members of the Broadway cast, crew, staff and creative and film teams. Alchemy Production Group will provide stage production and general management. RadicalMedia will film the production, as they did for the filmed versions of Hamilton for Disney+ and David Byrne’s American Utopia for HBO.
Christopher Ashley, who received the Tony Award for his direction of the Broadway production, will direct the live filming version. Ashley most recently directed the filmed version of the stage musical DIANA for Netflix. The original book, music and lyrics were written by Tony nominees and Olivier Award winners Irene Sankoff and David Hein who will also serve as Executive Producers alongside RadicalMedia’s Jon Kamen, Dave Sirulnick and Meredith Bennett. Jennifer Todd and Bill Condon will produce alongside the original stage play producers, Junkyard Dog Productions, as well as Mark Gordon. Brittany Hapner will serve as a co-producer.
Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
“Come From Away is a triumphant story about the power of humanity in the face of incredible darkness,” stated Nick Meyer, eOne’s President, Film. “Now more than ever, we are eager to be able to create meaningful and uplifting content and are excited to partner with this outstanding creative team to share the story with audiences everywhere.”
“We are thrilled to be joining this extended Gander community to continue to share Come From Away’s beautiful story of togetherness through a filmed version of the musical, particularly at a time when live theater is shuttered in much of the world,” said Dave Sirulnick, Executive Producer of RadicalMedia.
A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London) including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical” and 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical.” Come From Away was nominated for 7 2017 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Jenn Colella.
Photo: Getty Image