Port Hope Capitol Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rob Kempson (and director of the upcoming Come from Away) recalls the moment when the Twin Towers came crashing down on September 11, 2001.
“I was in high school in Ruth Drewitt’s ‘World Issues’ Geography class. She threw out the curriculum planned and, instead, we studied that day as it happened, as it unfolded in real-time, along with the aftermath.”
Rob remembers Ms. Drewitt saying that this moment would probably be the biggest global issue those students in her class would see in their lifetime. It remained important to talk about it. Drewitt created an extended unit around what was happening live on that day and the aftermath:
“I remember in that moment feeling so lucky to be able to process what was happening through the class that should help me process what was occurring.”
As he looks back, Kempson says that time was a powerful moment and a period of great teaching. Ruth (whom Rob says was a wonderful teacher) had the power and inherent expertise at that moment to bring the world’s perspective into the classroom. Rob also keenly remembers the days that followed, not only in that class but also what was going on outside in the real world.
For him, as a young person trying to figure out, academically and emotionally, the state of the world at that time, September 11 left an indelible imprint:
“September 11 pierced a global sense of calm we haven’t found since.”
When Come from Away first came out in its various iterations, Rob remembers people saying that a show like that couldn’t and shouldn’t be written. His response: “Of course, you can. That’s exactly what musicals and theatre are all about – helping us process something.”
That doesn’t mean that dark times have to be processed in dark ways. Come From Away is an excellent example. For Rob, the musical beautifully touches on all those dark themes while still making us all live in a place of hope:
“Great plays do that all the time, whether they’re fictional or not, whether they’re plays or musicals, whether they make you laugh or cry, I think these stories are a response to the world around us to process and to tell stories that are important, profound and significant, but sometimes also really silly. These things don’t always have to be separate.”
Aside from the Toronto and Broadway productions (which use the same staging by Christopher Ashley), I’m on a CFA journey, having seen the show in Halifax at the Neptune and then in London, Ontario, at The Grand. I want to see how directors tell the story in their own way. Thankfully, Halifax and The Grand have not been replicas of the Toronto run. I’ll travel to Gananqoue in September to conclude my journey.
In Halifax and London, both shows were sold out at the performance I attended. I also learned that all shows at Neptune and the Grand have full houses the other nights so much that the theatres extended their runs. Some audience members keep returning.
Kempson clearly and confidently explains why that happened. I concur wholeheartedly.
Show writers, composers, and real-life husband-and-wife David Hein and Irene Sankoff help audiences process something horrifying through a lens of hope, community, care, and love. Come from Away continues to intoxicate, captivate, and affirm that people are good, the world is good, we can do good things for one another, and that it feels good to do so. When you put all this together with David and Irene’s non-stop, heart-pounding score and characters who are funny, silly, hopeful and sad, and ask audiences to participate in the imagination and suspension of disbelief involved in theatre-making, that’s what makes the musical still speak to audiences.
That’s why they continue to go in droves to see the show. Rob doesn’t believe people are as cynical as they pretend to be. The musical is very earnest and really captures the joy of helping people, caring for one another, and creating community across boundaries.
The musical has been extended through August 9 in Port Hope.
What’s going to be unique about the Capitol’s staging?
Part of the cast will be actor musicians. They will play instruments in the show and also play multiple characters. Rob adds further:
“We’re setting the story in [character] Beulah’s kitchen. It’s a kitchen party for the folks in Gander to tell one another the story. The characters in the Capitol’s production are gathering in their community to tell their story that they think is important.”
It’s not a major shift but a slight one. It will still look, sound and feel like Come from Away, but the kitchen party motif is what the East Coast is best known for. With people playing instruments in a kitchen, this feeling of camaraderie and community building will be the theme of the Capitol’s Come from Away. It will be a challenge to stage it in this manner, but Rob welcomes it because he wants to emphasize the Canadian element of the story, not seen from an American lens:
“Come from Away is about who we are as people, which makes it special. We wanted to put the lens firmly there.”
Rob knows Hein and Sankoff quite well, but he isn’t sure if they will attend the opening night or any of the performances during the run, as they are very busy. They’re aware it’s being staged in Port Hope. Rob will welcome them with open arms if they attend, as it would be a great honour.
The creative team includes Music Director Jeff Newberry, Choreographer Genny Sermonia and Set Designer Brandon Kleiman.
The cast includes: Donna Garner, Tat Austrie, Annika Tupper, Monique Lund, Melissa Payne, Julie Lumsden, Kyle Blair, Kyle Golemba (known as the two Kyles), Charlie Clark, Brendan Wall, and Scott Carmichael. Rehearsals begin June 26 with the opening slated for July 10. If you happen to see these individuals downtown, on the streets around the theatre, make sure you give them a big hello and a warm welcome.
Come from Away runs July 10 – August 9 on the Main Stage at the Cameco Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street, Port Hope.
For tickets, visit the show link at https://capitoltheatre.com/events/come-from-away-2026-07-10-730-pm/, call the Box Office at (905) 885-1071, or email info@capitoltheatre.com.
To see what other events are going on at the Capitol, visit: www.capitoltheatre.com
