You don’t have to “Come From Away” to see this year’s highly anticipated production of the same name from Orangeville Music Theatre (OMT).
“Come From Away” is an extremely exciting opportunity for us as we are one of the first community theatre groups to do the show in all of Canada, and the first ever in Southern Ontario,” says Board Member and Director of Advertising Bailey Mills.
“Come From Away” is a musical, with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters in the musical are based on actual Gander residents and the stranded travelers they housed and fed.
Of the events being portrayed in the production, Mills says, “Everybody just came together and did it…Canadians united on the East Coast, and people around the world also pulled together. It was amazing. It’s just such a heart-warming story.
“I’m proud that we’re putting it on. I’m so grateful that we have the opportunity to perform such a meaningful show that really highlights the importance of community and the goodness that can exist in humanity.”
Mills first became involved in performing with the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers (T.O.Y.S. Choir) when she was a child before participating in Orangeville Music Theatre’s production of “The King & I.” After taking a break from theatre, Mills rediscovered her love of the stage and has been involved for the last sixteen years.
“I know I absolutely loved it,” Mills shares. “My mom enrolled me in dance, sports, and gymnastics but choir was the one thing I truly wanted to pursue. As an adult, I became involved in theatre because I enjoy singing. I initially started with theatre because I loved to sing, and I continued with it because it helped me forge lifelong friendships.
“The support you have in the community from your theatre family is amazing…You build friendships with people and have inside jokes, and you spend a lot of time together. It’s the magic of community theatre, you get this out of being able to perform what you love doing, but you build a community while you’re there.
OMT is a not-for-profit, volunteer run community group, founded in 1979, that began as the St. Mark’s Choral Society which initially ran one show annually.
Today, OMT produces four shows a year, as well as offering additional youth music theatre through their Cathy Broom Memorial Youth Academy Workshops. OMT is also a member of the Association of Community Theatres Central-Ontario (ACT-CO) and has received many awards, nominations, and recognitions of excellence for their productions. Since 2009, OMT has performed 53 musical theatre productions for the community.
Doing so provides approximately 120 cast members with opportunities to participate annually, along with 50 volunteer roles for artists and production team members. In the 2025 season, OMT reached audiences of 2,854, in addition to engaging with over 1000 students and educators from Dufferin County Schools.
Orangeville Music Theatre produces four shows a season, with two junior productions (with all actors being 18 or under at the time of production), in addition to two Main Stages. The Main Stage performances are more adult-focused, but often include children or teenagers, depending on the show.
Performances take place at the Orangeville Opera House, rented from Theatre Orangeville, in January and June. The January 2027 productions have now been confirmed as “Annie” on the Main Stage, and “Beetlejuice Jr.” for the youth production. Auditions will be held in September.
To get involved, either on stage or behind the scenes, keep an eye out on OMT’s social media pages (@OrangevilleMusicTheatre), as well as the Facebook and Instagram pages. Additionally, please visit OrangevilleMusicTheatre.com, where all listings for artistic team calls and audition notices are posted.
All experience levels are welcome to audition, and volunteers are encouraged to join in any capacity in which they are able- whether that be sewing, building, lending a hand backstage, building, or helping at concession.
WRITTEN BY: KIRA WRONSKA DORWARD
