For cast, agony not far ‘away’
IMAGES OF the 9/11 terror attacks are as shocking as they are indelible.
The cast of Broadway’s “Come From Away” must imagine the disturbing visuals at each performance of the musical set in Gander, Newfoundland. That’s where 38 jets were rerouted with 7,000 passengers who were fed and cared for by the local residents.
“The moment in the show when passengers see images of the World Trade Center for the first time hits me hard every time,” said actress Jenn Colella, 42, who plays an American Airlines pilot.
Days away from the anniversary, she added, “It’s been hitting even harder lately.”
The Tony-winning show created by Canadian spouses Irene Sankoff and David Hein doesn’t have a performance on Monday. But the cast will deliver the production’s message of compassion, resilience and community on another stage — the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
The actors will be among 2,500 volunteers helping to pack nonperishable meals as part of September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
“Come From Away” actors will sing “Prayer,” a number from the musical. “The song is about people of different faiths — Christian, Jewish, Hindu — harmonizing,” said Geno Carr, 40, who plays a Gander cop in the show. “It’s a celebration of coming together.”
The same goes for 9/11 Day, as the event is known. It has grown in 15 years to be the nation’s largest annual day of service and is designed to honor victims and their families with personal acts of kindness and unity.
“The day is about not only looking back as a way to remember,” said its co-creator Jay Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn Winuk in the attacks. “It’s also about looking forward to serving humanity.”
More than 500,000 nonperishable meals — rice, lentils, dried vegetables and spices — are set to be packed on Monday. Of those, 80,000 will be sent to help provide relief to people in and around Houston.
Joel Hatch, 61, who plays the mayor of Gander, will be rolling up his sleeves with his colleagues.
“The show revisits a dark (time),” Hatch, an original cast member added, “but it does it in a way that brings light and gives hope.”
“I have a vivid memory of him being covered in soot and getting home at 10 p.m.,” she said.
She knew right away what was happening eight years later as black smoke billowed over Lower Manhattan — another terrorist strike.
Her father served as head of security at investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, with offices on the 101st-105th floors of the skyscraper. He would not survive the second attack.
Colaio’s father Mark worked for Cantor, too, as did her two uncles.
Waring said the project will allow people to see the children of Sept. 11 in a different light.
“It’s such a negative event — it’s kind of like pity, people have pity,” she said. “I think this is going to show how we have risen in our ways.”