A celebration of the best of humankind. The Daily Beast The hit musical Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of human endurance and bravery under extraordinary circumstances. Since its Broadway debut, the production has earned critical acclaim worldwide, winning the Tony Award for Best Direction and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. On September 11, 2001, as the world reacted to the terror attacks in the United States, North American airspace was closed, grounding thousands of passengers. An astonishing 38 planes were forced to land in Gander, a remote Newfoundland town with a population of just 9,000 people. The sudden arrival of these travelers nearly doubled the town's population overnight. Come From Away focuses on the Gander residents and the diverse set of passengers they welcomed into their homes. The story weaves together the experiences of characters based on real people, including American Airlines’ first female captain, a gay couple both named Kevin, and an Egyptian chef who finds unexpected kindness in a time of uncertainty. Together, their stories create an affirming portrait of how strangers can become family in the most trying of times. The musical gets its title from local Newfoundland terminology; the residents of Gander traditionally refer to anyone not born on the island as "come from aways."