Musical based on a true story in the aftermath of Sept. 11 comes to the stage at CSPS Hall

Some actors will do anything to get into their role.

Daniel Day-Lewis learned to build a canoe, refused to bathe and lived in a shack to slip into characters in a variety of his films. Nicolas Cage had his teeth pulled for "Birdy," and Robert DeNiro gained 80 pounds for one scene in "Raging Bull."

Susan Scharnau-Schultejans decided to fly far away to prep for her role in the play "Come From Away," which opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2015 and ran on Broadway from 2017-2022. The extraordinary play, with the book, music and lyrics by David Hein and Irene Sankoff, is a musical based on the events in the tiny Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Thirty-eight planes, carrying 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters are based on Gander residents and the stranded travelers they housed, fed and befriended.

After Scharnau-Schultejans was cast as Ganderite Bonnie Harris in the Revival Theatre Company's production of "Come From Away," slated for Sept. 5-14 at CSPS Hall, the Marion resident booked four flights to Gander. Scharnau-Schultejans felt that there was something familiar about the folks in Gander, and she wanted to learn more about them.

"When I saw the national tour, the show's complexity and biographical story intrigued," Scharnau-Schultejans said. "The idea that the people of Newfoundland were instantly resourceful and generous reminded me of Iowans, especially since we'd just overcome the Flood of 2008 and the 2020 derecho. Knowing that the characters in 'Come From Away' are real people, it feels vital to embody their experiences with respect and research."

So, Scharnau-Schultejans embarked on a long journey to delve into her character.

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"It took four flights to arrive at Gander at 1 a.m., but before the trip I was able to connect with Bonnie Harris through one quick message on Facebook, " she said.

Harris, the manager of Gander's SPCA, gave Scharnau-Schultejans a tour of the shelter.

"Bonnie is just as kind and innovative as you'd expect," Scharnau-Schultejans said. "Many people in Gander told me that ‘no one will ever know all of the good things Bonnie does for others.’“

Becoming acquainted with the folks who inspired the characters informed Scharnau-Schultejans. "Meeting the people and standing in the places where the story occurred intensifies the importance of representing them with respect and accuracy."

The bonus of the trip was catching a production of "Come From Away" in Gander.

"I had the opportunity to see ‘Come From Away’ in Gander, which featured some of the original cast members," Scharnau-Schultejans said. "It felt like a master class, and I was able to soak it all in."

Revival Theatre Company Executive and Artistic Director Brian Glick gushes about having two actors, Miranda Luze and Hannah-Kathryn Wall, who were part of the national tour of "Come From Away."

"Having that insider knowledge is fantastic," Glick said. "It's extremely valuable in this production, which is brilliant, moving and inspirational work. It's also not easy."

Each of the actors play multiple parts.

"The show is deceptively difficult," Glick said. "Actors have to change characters. They'll change their jacket or a hat and portray different people at a moments notice. They have to change accents since you might be portraying a Texan, then someone who is Islamic, and then maybe someone from Canada. People from all over the world landed that day in Gander."

The cast leaned heavily on Revival Theatre Company dialect coach Katie Hahn.

"There's no doubt that Katie has been a tremendous help," Glick said.

The landings in Gander occurred due to the terrorist attack, but the emphasis isn't about what happened in Manhattan, Washington D.C. or Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It's primarily about what happened during the days that followed in which a small Canadian town opened up its collective heart for stranded travelers.

"It's more of a (Sept. 12) story than anything," Glick said. "The stories that came out of Gander are amazing."

Two women, Gander's Beulah Cooper and Hannah O'Rourke from New York, bond over the fact that both of their sons are firefighters. However, O'Rourke learns that her son remains missing after the attacks. Her 44 year old son, who was a member of the New York City Fire Department, died in the World Trade Center.

O'Rourke died Aug. 10 at the age of 91.

"Come From Away" will likely appear in a number of cities in 2026 since it will be a quarter century since the 9/11 attacks.

"It's hard to believe that it will be 25 years after that happened," Glick said. "But one of the silver linings is that a show like 'Come From Away' is out there. It's about community and humans being kind. It's too bad that it sometimes takes a tragedy for people to come together. This is about people uniting, and this show is like a big hug."