A powerful true story of community, connection, and compassion closes PTC’s 25/26 season
[SALT LAKE CITY, UT APRIL 2, 2026] — Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah’s premier professional theatre in residence at the University of Utah, is proud to announce the Cast and Creative Team for the Utah Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away, with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The production is directed and choreographed by PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg. Musical direction is by Phil Reno.
When the world stood still on 9/11, an unexpected resilience unfolded in a remote Canadian town. 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 the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. 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. Don’t miss PTC’s “guaranteed-to-restore-your-faith-in-humanity” Utah premiere!
“Pioneer Theatre Company is proud to present the Utah premiere of Come From Away, a powerful story about community, generosity, and how people come together in difficult moments,” said Karen Azenberg. “This production brings together an outstanding ensemble of Broadway powerhouses and PTC alumni who work seamlessly to tell this story with honesty and heart. It’s a show that resonates in a very real way with audiences today and reminds us of our shared humanity—something that feels especially needed right now. We’re proud to close our season with a piece that feels both timely and deeply human.”
CAST & CREATIVE
Leading the company are Broadway veterans, returning PTC favorites, and exciting new artists making their Pioneer Theatre Company debuts.
The company includes PTC veterans Lucy Anders* (National Tour of Something Rotten!; PTC’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Jersey Boys, The Prom) as Janice & Others; Galyana Castillo* (Broadway’s Sweeney Todd; PTC’s Something Rotten!, Once on This Island) as Hannah & Others; Lenny Daniel* (Broadway’s Cats; National Tours of Spamalot and Chicago; PTC’s Jersey Boys, The Prom, A Christmas Story The Musical) as Doug & Others; Mary Fanning Driggs* (PTC’s Beautiful, …The Great Comet of 1812, Mamma Mia!) as Beulah & Others; Nathan Andrew Riley* (Broadway’s and National Tours of The Lion King and Beautiful; PTC’s Beautiful and Dear Evan Hansen) as Kevin J. & Others; John Schiappa* (original Broadway companies of Girl from the North Country, Assassins, Take Me Out; PTC’s The Count of Monte Cristo) as Claude & Others; Angie Schworer* (Broadway’s Some Like It Hot, The Prom, The Producers; PTC’s Sweet Charity) as Bonnie & Others. and Matthew Stocke* (original Broadway companies of Titanic, The Full Monty, The Last Ship; PTC’s concert presentation of Chess) as Oz & Others.
Making their Pioneer Theatre Company debuts are Pamela Bob* (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Hand to God; Off-Broadway’s Cracked Open) as Diane & Others; Brian O’Brien* (Broadway’s Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast, longtime Chicago veteran) as Nick & Others; Nic Rouleau* (Broadway, West End, and Chicago’s The Book of Mormon) as Kevin T. & Others; David Rowen* (Broadway’s Swept Away; Fosse/Verdon on FX) as Bob & Others; and Jessica Rush* (Broadway’s Tina, Dear Evan Hansen, Gypsy) as Beverly & Others.
Also joining the company is student intern Jordan Soper (University of Utah BFA Musical Theatre candidate; Legally Blonde, Newsies, Into the Woods for the U’s Department of Theatre) as Micky & Others.
The Creative Team is made up of Director/Choreographer Karen Azenberg (14 seasons and counting as PTC Artistic Director; PTC’s Beautiful, The Lehman Trilogy, …The Great Comet of 1812); and Musical Director & Conductor Phil Reno (Broadway’s The Drowsy Chaperone, The Producers, Something Rotten!).
They are joined by Scenic Designer Jo Winiarski (PTC’s The Prom, …The Great Comet of 1812), Costume Designer Patrick Holt (PTC’s Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress), Lighting Designer José Santiago (PTC’s Prayer for the French Republic, Bonnie & Clyde), Sound Designer Aaron Hubbard (PTC’s The Last Ship, Next to Normal), Hair & Makeup Designer Kate Casalino (PTC’s Beautiful, Noises Off), Dramaturg Alexandra Harbold (PTC’s The Lehman Trilogy, …The Great Comet of 1812), Dialect Coach Sarah Shippobotham (PTC’s Oslo, The Last Ship), Casting Director Bob Cline, Associate Director Lenny Daniel*, and Production Stage Manager James O. Hansen*.
PTC’s STANDING OVATION TO LOCAL HEROES + COME FROM AWAY TICKET INITIATIVE
PTC has launched its Standing Ovation to Local Heroes initiative in conjunction with its production of Come From Away. The program provides 500 complimentary tickets to first responders in recognition of their service to the community.
The initiative was established earlier this season with seed funding from PTC board member Laura Holleman and is supported by contributions from community partners, including University of Utah Health and Merit Medical.
Come From Away, which highlights themes of service, resilience, and community, serves as the centerpiece of the program, offering first responders the opportunity to attend a live theatrical performance at no cost.
“This program is about acknowledging the extraordinary commitment of first responders and creating space to recognize their impact in a meaningful way,” said PTC Managing Director Adrian Budhu. “Come From Away tells a story rooted in compassion and collective support—values that closely mirror the work these individuals carry out every day. We are grateful to our partners and donors who made it possible to share this experience with those who serve our community.”
First responders interested in taking advantage of this program for first responders should email Info@PioneerTheatre.org for more information.
TICKETS
Come From Away plays Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre from April 24-May 9, 2026. Tickets are now on sale at PioneerTheatre.org or by calling the PTC Box Office at 801-581-6961.
A limited number of Curtain Call for All (“name your own price”) tickets will be available for each performance of Come From Away. These tickets, which go on sale starting Monday, April 20, start at a minimum suggested price of $15 and can be purchased by visiting or calling the PTC Box Office at 801-581-6961.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Come From Away is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
PRESS CONTACT
Joshua Black
Director of Marketing and Communications
Joshua.Black@PTC.Utah.edu
INTERVIEWS: Theatre staff, members of the cast, and creative team can be made available for interviews. Please contact Joshua Black to arrange.
TICKETING INFORMATION
Book, Music, and Lyrics by IRENE SANKOFF and DAVID HEIN
Come From Away is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
WHEN
April 24-May 9, 2026
TIMES
Monday – Thursday, 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 PM
Saturday, 2:00 PM
WHERE
Come From Away will be performed at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre
300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City
PRICES
$57 – $83
Students K – 12 or ages 5-18 are half-price Monday – Thursday
- Curtain Call for All (“name your own price”) performances: April 24-May 9. Curtain Call for All tickets for Come From Away will be available starting Monday, April 20 at 10:00 AM.
- ASL-Interpreted performances: Monday, February 9 at 7:00 PM
- Discounts are also available for University of Utah students, staff, and faculty. Visit PioneerTheatre.org/UniversityofUtah for more details.
MORE INFO
The PTC Box Office is located in Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre: 300 S 1400 E.
Box Office: 801-581-6961
Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday – Friday
PTC Show Listing: Come From Away
CAST
Janice & Others: LUCY ANDERS
Diane & Others: PAMELA BOB*
Hannah & Others: GALYANA CASTILLO*
Doug & Others: LENNY DANIEL*
Beulah & Others: MARY FANNING DRIGGS*
Nick & Others: BRIAN O’BRIEN*
Kevin J. & Others: NATHAN ANDREW RILEY*
Kevin T. & Others: NIC ROULEAU*
Bob & Others: DAVID ROWEN*
Beverley & Others: JESSICA RUSH*
Claude & Others: JOHN SCHIAPPA*
Bonnie & Others: ANGIE SCHWORER*
Oz & Others: MATTHEW STOCKE*
Micky & Others: JORDAN SOPER
CREATIVE TEAM
Director/Choreographer: KAREN AZENBERG
Musical Director/Conductor: PHIL RENO
Scenic Designer: JO WINIARSKI
Costume Designer: PATRICK HOLT
Lighting Designer: JOSÉ SANTIAGO
Sound Designer: AARON HUBBARD
Hair & Makeup Designer: KATE CASALINO
Dialect Coach: SARAH SHIPPOBOTHAM
Dramaturg: ALEXANDRA HARBOLD
Associate Director: LENNY DANIEL
Casting: BOB CLINE
Production Stage Manager: JAMES O. HANSEN*
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
ABOUT PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC)
Now celebrating its 64th season, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premier professional theatre company and a leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Managing Director Adrian Budhu, PTC presents world-class productions that celebrate diversity in culture and society, and serve as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah. Notable productions include the regional premieres of Les Misérables, Sting’s The Last Ship, and Frank Wildhorn’s The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as the world premieres of Shucked (the first-ever Broadway tryout in Utah), A Distinct Society by Kareem Fahmy, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones, The Messenger by Jeff Talbott, and Ass by Ellen Simon. For more information, visit PioneerTheatre.org.