(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) -- In a story about strangers becoming family and tragedy giving way to unexpected hope, one real-life couple's love story has given students at Somerset County Vocational Technical High School a personal connection to the musical they are bringing to the stage.
The SCVTHS Theater Arts Department will present Come From Away November 19-21 at the Somerset County Vo-Tech Auditorium. Based on the events following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of a small Newfoundland town that welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers when U.S. airspace closed. Performances take place at 7:30pm each night.
At SCVTHS, preparing for a production goes beyond learning lines, music, and choreography. The Theater Arts program emphasizes character development and the craft of acting, encouraging students to explore the motivations, emotions, and lived experiences behind the roles they portray. As part of that process, cast members met over Zoom with Nick and Diane, the real-life couple who met and fell in love in the aftermath of September 11.
Hearing their story firsthand gave students a deeper understanding of the people behind the characters and helped them approach their performances with greater authenticity and empathy. The conversation exemplified the program's commitment to developing thoughtful performers who understand not only what their characters do, but why.
That personal connection is central to Come From Away. While the events of September 11 are remembered for their profound loss, the musical also shines a light on the extraordinary generosity of the people of Gander, Newfoundland, who opened their homes and hearts to thousands of strangers. Their acts of kindness sparked friendships, changed lives, and created relationships that endured long after the planes departed.
Directed by Dave Seamon, with musical direction by Dr. Alison Mingle, the SCVTHS production invites audiences to experience a story that remains deeply relevant today: how compassion can cross boundaries, how strangers can become part of our lives, and how hope can emerge in unexpected places.
Tickets: $15 reserved seating; $10 general admission; $8 seniors, veterans, and active-duty military; $5 students from schools other than SCVTHS. Admission is free for SCVTHS students, faculty, and staff. Online fees apply. Tickets are available at scvths.booktix.com Somerset County Vo-Tech Auditorium is located at 14 Vogt Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
There are multiple performances including:
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
@ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
Princeton, NJ
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
@ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center
Morristown, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
@ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ
Thursday, October 22, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ
Thursday, October 22, 2026
@ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
