Colleen Grablick
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the steps of the Lincoln Memorial will serve as a stage for a concert that grapples with the aftermath of the deadly attack.
Rain or shine, Ford’s Theatre Society will be producing a concert version of the musical Come From Away on Sept. 10, marking the theater’s return to live performances since shutting down for the pandemic. Tickets for the show are not required.
While the National Mall is no stranger to large events, the Sept. 10 performance will mark a unique, free, concert-going experience after months of either pandemic or security-related shut-downs for the Capitol’s monuments.
Come From Away tells the true story of a small town in Canada, where 38 planes – 7,000 passengers — were ordered to land unexpectedly in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack. The musical first premiered at Ford’s Theatre in 2016, and the Lincoln Memorial event will mark the first time that music from the show will be performed publicly for a live audience in the United States since March 2020. The Broadway production — nominated for seven Tony Awards in 2017 — is set to resume performances later in September.
Ford’s Theatre has not announced a cast list, but the Washington Post reported that the Broadway cast and crew will be traveling to D.C. for the show, which will be staged with partial props and costumes.
“There isn’t a more fitting or inspiring location than the Lincoln Memorial to stage this wonderful story that honors the better angels of our human nature,” said Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault in a press release. “On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we are honored to present this story of courage, communion and compassion. And we are grateful for the chance to do so in-person, welcoming back audiences to experience the transportive power of live theatre together once again.”
The show will begin at 6 p.m., and run about 100 minutes. Following the Sept. 10 performance, Ford’s Theatre has a line-up of live shows slated for fall and winter, including productions of My Lord, What a Night, and A Christmas Carol.
And if you miss Come From Away this time, the touring production of the show is headed to the National Theatre next spring.
