2 Canadian musicals, including Come From Away, land Drama League nods
The Canadian Press | Posted: April 19, 2017 6:00 PM | Last Updated: April 19, 2017
The awards are considered the oldest theatrical honours in the U.S.
Come From Away and Ride the Cyclone, two musicals with Canadian creators, are in the running for this year's prestigious Drama League Awards.
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- The critics weigh in on Come From Away: Flat-out raves … and a few rants
Both plays emerged as nominees in the outstanding production of a Broadway or off-Broadway musical category.
From the Rock to the Big Apple
The Broadway show Come From Away was created by Canadian husband-and-wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein. The story is set in Gander, N.L., in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Before making its Broadway debut early last month, Come From Away was staged in La Jolla, Calif., Washington, D.C., Seattle and Toronto. The Come From Away cast was also in Gander for two concerts last October as a fundraiser for local charities.
The New York-based production has earned mostly rave reviews and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau are among the famous theatre-goers who have seen the show.
Roller coaster ride
The off-Broadway production Ride the Cyclone is from Victoria-based theatre creators Atomic Vaudeville.
Described as part tragedy, part comedy, the quirky production, which closed last December, featured lyrics and music from Brooke Maxwell and Jacob Richmond. It's about students who die in a freak roller-coaster mishap.
The Drama League Awards, first handed out in 1922 and formalized in 1935, are billed as the oldest theatrical honours in the U.S.
The awards are selected by the entire theatre community, which encompasses thousands of Drama League members from across the U.S. who attend Broadway and off-Broadway shows.
Husband-and-wife acting duo Audra McDonald and Will Swenson will host this year's ceremony, which will be held in New York on May 19.