PCPA will present “Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical that tells the true story of a small town that welcomed the world on Sept. 11, 2001.

The production runs April 23-May 10 in the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, and June 11-27 at the Solvang Festival Theater.  

In the story of “Come From Away,” an average day in the isolated community of Gander, Newfoundland, becomes a defining moment when 38 planes are suddenly grounded in the small town on Sept. 11, 2001.

The population of the remote Gander doubles overnight, but instead of panic, something remarkable happens.   

Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the locals throw open their homes, their bars, and their hearts, proving that compassion can outshine crisis.

Featuring a folk-rock score and a vibrant ensemble of characters, “Come From Away” is a humanity, resilience, and the connections that unite us all.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work on ‘Come From Away,'” said Roger DeLaurier, the play’s director. “It was a title most definitely on my bucket list, so I was pleased when Mark Booher asked me to direct it. I am excited to share what this wonderful company brings to the project.”

“’Come From Away ‘at its core is about kindness, humanity, generosity and community in the face of profound displacement and dislocation,” DeLaurier said.

“Through the individual stories of the people of Gander and the people on the planes forced to land there, we get to the individual human experience of people swept up in a global event,” he said.

“Through music and the power of verbatim text and the intimacy of direct address, we experience the activation of kindness and compassion, the building of friendships, and gratitude,” he said. “It leads us to ask: If we were in the same situation, would we step up in the way the people of Gander did?”

The play is under the music direction of Paul Marszalkowski, choreography by Molly Dobbs; scenic design by Jason Bolen; costume designer Klara Wilson; lighting designer Michael Palumbo; sound designer Jon Zielke; dialect coach Joel Goldes; and stage manager Jack D. Myles.

The cast includes Kitty Balay (Diane and others); Karole Foreman (Hannah and others); Molly Stilliens (Beulah and others); Christen Celaya (Bonnie and others); Karin Hendricks-Bolen (Beverly and others); René Millán (Oz and others); Mike Fiore (Kevin T and others); Alexander Pimentel (Kevin J and others); Keenon Hooks (Bob and others); Erik Stein (Claude and others); Andrew Philpot (Nick and others); Kelly Brenya (Janice and others); with Katie Hughes and Eeshan Kumar in the ensemble.

Tickets for “Come From Away” can be purchased online here, or through the box office at 805-922-8313. Tickets start at $25.

PCPA Youth and Community Arts and Gala Pride and Diversity Center present PCPA Pride Night for the 7 p.m. performance on May 2. Throughout the season, Pride Night welcomes LGBTQIA+ community members and allies to celebrate with the theater.   

To purchase Pride Night tickets, use the code PRIDE at checkout for 15% off Tier 1 or Tier 2 tickets. Tickets include an invitation to a themed 5 p.m. pre-show reception, featuring snacks, beverages, a Q&A with PCPA’s resident artists, photo stations, interactive installations, community resources, and raffle prizes.