Check back to this page regularly to see audition information for our slate of shows.

Come From Away

Book, Music and Lyrics by
Irene Sankoff and David Hein

SIDE 1 DIANE
SIDE 2 HANNAH
SIDE 3 JANICE
SIDE 4 BEULAH
SIDE 5 BONNIE
SIDE 6 BEVERLEY
SIDE 7 OZ
SIDE 8 KEVIN T.
SIDE 9 KEVIN J.
SIDE 10 BOB
SIDE 11 CLAUDE
SIDE 12 NICK

Auditions for all roles will be held on Monday Nov. 9 and Tuesday Nov. 10 at the Capitol Theatre in Waterloo (202 South Main, Waterloo, IL).

Audition Reservations are required: SIGN UP HERE.

Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Video auditions will be accepted beginning in October until Nov. 8. In-person auditions are encouraged. If you need to audition via video, contact the director, Maria, for more information. Send video auditions to Maria Wilken at mom.wilken@gmail.com.

Performances of Come From Away are February. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14.

Rehearsals are planned for Sundays (3:00-6:00 pm), Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (6:30-9:30 pm).

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Auditions

Come From Away is directed by Arts for Life award-winning director Maria Wilken with Arts for Life award-winning actress Gabi Maul as assistant director, and Arts for Life award-winning musical director Marcia Braswell.

There are six main men’s roles, and six main women’s roles. Each actor will be playing multiple characters.

Please come prepared with a vocal selection, 16-32 measures long (not a song from Come From Away). Bring sheet music for the piano accompanist. Do not bring recorded music. Singers will be allowed strictly 90 seconds for their vocal auditions.

Each actor can choose one or two character sides to read. Printed sides will also be available at auditions.

This show requires that the actors are constantly moving. Be prepared to learn and perform some movement choreography.

For questions or more information, contact Maria Wilken at mom.wilken@gmail.com.

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Synopsis

A True Story of Kindness in the Wake of Tragedy.
When the world stood still on 9/11, an unexpected resilience unfolded in the remote Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland. Come From Away, a powerful and uplifting musical based on true events, tells the story of 38 diverted flights carrying nearly 7,000 passengers who found themselves stranded in Gander. Undaunted by logistics and language barriers, the people of Gander welcomed the stranded travelers into their community with open arms, recognizing that we’re all part of a global family.

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CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Ages are flexible.

DIANE – Female, 50s-60s – Range: Mezzo Soprano, A traditional divorcee from Texas, who is terrified that her son may have been flying at the time of the attacks. When she finds out that he is safe, she is given a new lease on life and discovers a wilder, more care free side of herself. (Also plays, Crystal and Brenda)

HANNAH – Female, 40s-60s – Range: Soprano, A mother of a firefighter in Manhattan, Hannah waits for news about her son, and is comforted by Beulah. (Also plays Margie and Mickey)

JANICE – Female, 20s – Range: Soprano, An eager new, local TV reporter, Janice is thrown into the deep end on her first day. Initially naive about the world, Janice must face the pain and confusion around her. (Also plays Britney and Flight Attendant)

BEULAH – Female, 40s-60s – Range: Mezzo Soprano, The head of the Gander Legion, with a firefighter son, who walks Hannah to her church and prays with her. (Also plays Delores)

BONNIE – Female, 30s-40s – Range: Mezzo Soprano, A no-nonsense mother of three, Bonnie is the head of the Gander area SPCA. When she discovers animals trapped on the planes, she stops at nothing to ensure their safety. (Also plays Martha)

BEVERLEY – Female, 40s-50s – Range: Mezzo Soprano, The first female captain for American Airlines pilot, Beverley has always loved flying, when her world suddenly changes. (Also plays Annette and Reporter)

OZ – Male, 30s-50s – Range: Baritone, The quirky constable on the two-person Gander police force. When the town’s population suddenly doubles, Oz helps out in unexpected ways. (Also plays Joey, Customs Officer, Mr. Michaels, Terri, Matty, Rabbi, and Head Cardiologist)

KEVIN T. – Male, 30s-40s – Range: Tenor/Baritone, The head of an environmental company in Los Angeles, Kevin was on vacation with his boyfriend (and secretary) also named Kevin, when they are stranded in Gander. Inspired by the town’s generosity, Kevin creates the Pay It Forward Foundation. (Also plays Garth and President Bush)

KEVIN J. – Male, 30s-40s – Range: Baritone, Kevin’s boyfriend and secretary, sarcastic and unhappy, he wants to leave as soon as possible.(Also plays Dwight and Ali)

BOB – Male, 20s-40s – Range: Baritone, A hardened New Yorker, Bob is suspicious of where he has landed, fearing that it is World War III, that someone is going to shoot him and steal his wallet, but instead, he end s up losing his New York jadedness. (Also plays Muhumuza, Captain Bristol)

CLAUDE – Male, 40s-60s – Range: Baritone, The gregarious and well-liked mayor of Gander, Claude loves his work, the townspeople, and his daily traditions, but has never had to deal with a crisis of this magnitude before. (Also plays Derm, Brenda’s Brother and Eddie)

NICK – Male,50s-60s – Range: Baritone, An English oil engineer, who is focused on his work, Nick’s life is turned upside down when he falls for Diane. (Also plays Doug, Officer Stephensen and Male Townsperson)