On the island of Newfoundland lies the town of Gander. It is a small, sleepy town of approximately 12,000 people, home to harsh, snowy winters and mild, coastal summers. There is a hospital, library, community center and an airport. It is there, at Gander International Airport, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, that the lives of the townspeople were forever changed. As a part of Canada’s Operation Yellow Ribbon, 38 planes carrying around 7,000 passengers were diverted to land in Gander International Airport. The town nearly doubled in size, and with nowhere else to go, the passengers and crew were taken in by the citizens of Gander. The Tony-Award winning musical Come from Away, opening next week at Asolo Repertory Theatre, tells the remarkable true story of the events that followed.

“The town had to figure out where to house all of these passengers, how to feed them, how to get their prescriptions. Passengers weren’t allowed to take their luggage off the planes because they didn’t know if there were explosive materials in the luggage,” says Peter Rothstein, producing artistic director of Asolo Rep. “While it’s incredibly poignant—obviously 9/11 is at the center of the story—it is also incredibly joyful and very, very funny.”

Rothstein, who is also directing the production, relays that the week was not just a logistical challenge, but an emotional one as well. Many of the passengers were not allowed to deboard for 28 hours—not knowing the events of what transpired until September 12. “There’s a really moving moment where the passengers are all watching the TVs and see the footage of the planes crashing into the towers,” says Rothstein. “You felt so powerless in that moment, yet these folks were able to do something and exercise compassion. Whether or not they said it out loud, they knew that they were doing something important, something that was deeply human.”

Twelve actors will play both the passengers and the locals, adding not just to the theatricality of the production, but to the humanistic aspect as well. The title of the musical is actually a colloquial term used in Newfoundland to describe someone not from the region. Having the actors play both “come from aways” and the townspeople bridges the gap between the two parties. “The writers said that there’s a time in everyone’s life where they need to reach out for help and hopefully a time that they reach out to help someone in need,” says Rothstein. “Having one actor play both sides of that coin is quite poignant.”

Come from Away, November 12-December 28, Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34243, 941-351-8000

Pictured: The cast of Asolo Rep's Come From Away. Provided photo.

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Key Chorale and The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company celebrate the magic of the season for Joy & Wonder on Sunday, November 30 at the Sarasota Opera House. Audiences will be enchanted by a tapestry of music and movement featuring the festive sounds of brass and the radiant voice of Lithuanian soprano Lina Dambrauskaite, and the 100-voice Key Chorale for two Medieval inspired compositions. Experience the world premiere dance of Missa Carolae by English composer James Whitbourn and Ola Gjeilo’s lush and moving Dreamweaver inspired by a medieval folk tale of transformation. New holiday works by Jacob Narverud, Dan Forrest and Karl Jenkins complete this welcome holiday tradition. GRAMMY-nominated English composer James Whitbourn’s Missa Carolae, commissioned for the 1400th anniversary of Rochester Cathedral in England, draws on a centuries-old form called theparody mass—sacred texts set to familiar carols. Listeners will recognize melodies such as In dulci jubilo, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, woven into a work that dances with joy and reverence. This music comes to life through original choreography by Brittany Pollack, Soloist with New York City Ballet.

Sunday, November 30, 4pm, Sarasota Opera House, To purchase tickets to Joy & Wonder, visit keychorale.org or call 941-552-8768 to reserve the best seats. Pricing varies from $20-$55, with college students just $10. 

Last week may have been Halloween, but The Grinch started his quest to steal Christmas early this year by attempting to recruit Sarasotans to help him steal Christmas. In advance of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, The Grinch visited iconic Sarasota locations including Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Lido Beach, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, and more. Tickets for Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical start at $56 and are available at VanWezel.org, by calling 941-263-6799, or by visiting the Veteran Air Box Office at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726. Grab and go dining options are available through Mattison’s at the Van Wezel which is located inside the theatre. Select shows may have dinner service available. Reservations can be made on VanWezel.org or through the Veteran Air Box Office. 

The Glenridge Performing Arts Center (GPAC) invites audiences to experience the joy, reflection, and artistry of the holiday season with a festive lineup of December performances. From big-band swing to classical brilliance, soaring choral works, and spirited storytelling, "Holidays at GPAC" offers something for every musical taste. “We love seeing the community come together for these holiday programs,” says Ben Turoff, director of the Glenridge Performing Arts Center. “Whether you’re moved by choral music, excited by big-band jazz, or just looking for something joyful to share with visiting family, GPAC is a place to celebrate together in December.”  Performances take place at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 7333, Scotland Way, Sarasota. Tickets and more information are available at, www.gpactix.com or by calling 941-552-5325. 

This holiday season, Candlelight®, the globally acclaimed series of live concerts presented by Fever, will transform St. Boniface Episcopal Church with thousands of flickering candles to host an unforgettable performance featuring classic Christmas carols and timeless holiday melodies, performed by a talented local string quartet.  Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings, St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Tickets can be purchased at: https://feverup.com/m/372354. For more information about Candlelight, access candlelightexperience.com 

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce the sheriff’s office is hosting its 9th Annual Holiday Toy Drive. This annual event will benefit several nonprofits including the Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office (GAL), Teen Court of Sarasota, and All Star Children’s Foundation, to name a few. The toy drive has evolved into a holiday project the agency and citizens of Sarasota County look forward to every year. Launched in 2017, the sheriff’s office has donated numerous gifts and gift cards with the assistance of agency members, residents, local businesses, and organizations. Working with the GAL program for the past eight years and partnering with Teen Court of Sarasota and All Star Children’s Foundation for the last three, children in Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto County have benefitted from this toy drive, and the community has made it successful and helped it grow. A special thanks to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Public Safety Department who are continuing the annual tradition of generously donating our holiday tree to serve as the toy drive’s collection site. For more information, contact the Community Affairs Section at 941.861.4124 or Info@sarasotasheriff.org. 

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) announced that its Resilient Roots initiative is now fully funded and actively helping Newtown homeowners preserve their historic properties. The project is supported through a collaborative investment from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).  

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