On October 9, students at Downers Grove South High School in suburban Chicago are headed to the Paramount Theatre in Aurora to see Come From Away, a musical that tells the story of thousands of airline passengers diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001, Joy Haddleton reports in the school’s student newspaper.
Gander International Airport (Facebook)For many students, it will be their first live theater experience. That’s one reason English teacher and drama sponsor Tiffany Rubin chose it: “We’re looking for something that appeals to a wide variety of students,” she said.
The musical isn’t just a performance; it’s a way of learning. Students already know the tragedy of 9/11. What they may not know is the remarkable story of Gander, where residents welcomed strangers with open arms, shelter, and food. Voxitatis reported on this story from Gander nine years ago.
Actors like Andrea Prestinario, who plays Captain Beverley Bass and other roles, emphasize that the characters are based on real people and real events. Bass herself, the first female captain at American Airlines, has seen the show nearly 200 times and praises the way it captures both the grief and the generosity of those days.
For students, that makes this more than just a drama club outing. It’s a chance to see history come alive on stage and to reflect on the lesson the musical insists on repeating: in the darkest moments, kindness can shine through.
As one audience member put it, “Nobody leaves at the end. They’re clapping, dancing, crying. You feel the story stay with you.”
By reporting this as a field trip, Joy highlighted how students are not only exposed to professional theater but also to an unforgettable lesson in resilience, empathy, and shared humanity, one that connects directly back to history, even to the scholarship fund set up by real passengers from one of those planes.
