‘Come From Away’ opens tonight

In her directorial debut for Mecca Productions, Tiana Vasconcelos wants to tell a Canadian story that stems from tragedy — and with 14 chairs and a prop suitcase or two, she hopes audiences feel the community, love and support at the core of the musical.

“Come From Away,” which opens tonight at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium in Brandon, takes place in Gander, N.L., on one of the most tragic days in recent memory — Sept. 11, 2001.

Following the attacks, the small, isolated town suddenly became an international host for 38 planes that were diverted to the local airstrip.

“It’s all about what happened when the airspace was closed during 9/11 and what Canada’s partnership in that event was, what it meant to them and how we supported people from away,” Vasconcelos said Wednesday.

“It’s about how they cared for each other and complete strangers. Seven thousand people were stranded in Gander and the locals supported them,” she said.

Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, which Vasconcelos said has made the production emotional for the cast, as most of them vividly remember the day.

“I remember where I was when we got the news and most of the people in the cast certainly do as well,” she said.

Vasconcelos said the musical format and message of the story are what attracted her to taking the project on as her first show in the director’s role.

The roughly 90-minute musical is almost entirely sung, with very little spoken dialogue, and has a small 12-person cast.

She described the Mecca Productions take on “Come From Away” as interesting, and unique, attributing the “neat” visual experience to 14 chairs that the actors move around during the show.

“I’ve never seen a stage look like that,” she laughed. “There’s little dots everywhere for where we set these chairs up to create airplanes, buses, Tim Hortons, Gander Academy, town hall … It’s just crazy and it all happens with chairs.”

Mecca Productions artistic director Lisa Vasconcelos, who is Tiana’s mom, said this performance feels like a moment to pass the torch.

“They are kind of the next generation of folks that are going to keep musical theatre moving ahead in Brandon,” Lisa, who is also acting in the musical, said Wednesday.

“It’s been really great to work for them and work under them as they test their own wings and take flight,” she said.

Lisa said the play feels like “being in Newfoundland at a kitchen party.”

“We’re really excited to be one of the first groups in our province and in our region to produce this show on the 25th anniversary of 9/11,” she said.

Tiana said that with all the uncertainty she sees in the world, now is an important time to share this musical with Westman audiences.

“I think that it’s important that we root ourselves and remind ourselves of what it means to be a good person and a good neighbour and a good friend. And those are all themes that are super prominent in this musical,” Tiana said.

“It’s a really, truly beautiful story and out of something that was so horrific.”

The performance will be staged at the WMCA tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

» rgerrard@brandonsun.com