The Canadian theatrical production Come From Away has received seven Tony nominations including a nod for best musical.
The show’s creators, Canadian husband-and-wife team David Hein and Irene Sankoff, were also nominated for best score and best book for a musical, while Christopher Ashley is up for best musical director.
Jenn Colella is in the running for best actress in a featured role in a musical for her portrayal of real-life retired airline Capt. Beverley Bass.
Howell Binkley was also nominated for best lighting design in a musical, and Kelly Devine was nominated for best choreography in a musical.
Come From Away is set in the remote East Coast town of Gander, N.L., during the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Gander’s population doubled as it sheltered 6,579 passengers and crew from 38 planes diverted when U.S. air space was closed on Sept. 11, 2001.
Come From Away earned mostly rave reviews when the production made its Broadway debut in March. Prior to its arrival in New York, the musical was staged in La Jolla, Calif., Washington, D.C., Seattle and Toronto. The “Come From Away” cast was also in Gander for two concerts last October as a fundraiser for local charities.
“Come From Away” has had its fair share of high-profile attendees in the audience since its Broadway opening. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, former prime minister Jean Chretien, actor Hugh Jackman, actress-model Brooke Shields and supermodel Cindy Crawford are among the famous theatregoers who have visited the Great White Way to take in the show.
Prior to Tuesday’s Tony nominations, the homegrown production was already receiving plenty of recognition from critics within and beyond the Big Apple.
The show has received a slew of theatre nominations from the Drama League Awards, Drama Desk Awards, the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Chita Rivera Awards.
The show also received 14 nominations from the Helen Hayes Awards, which celebrate excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
Kevin Spacey will host the 71st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 11