Q&A With Director Kent Gash
June 1, 2026
We sat down with Director Kent Gash to talk about the importance of COME FROM AWAY, his vision for the Guthrie’s production and why it’s still a can’t-miss musical 25 years after its defining event.
Why is this musical still relevant today?
When Come From Away first opened in 2015, it automatically resonated with audiences. This year will be the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and we have multiple generations of theatergoers who weren’t alive when it happened. Regardless of anyone’s personal history with the tragedy, this musical has a lot to say about the value of storytelling and exploring our common humanity.
The piece is about the value of storytelling and sharing of personal histories. It has a great deal to say about the nature of community and how human beings respond in a moment of extreme duress and uncertainty. Do we respond with generosity and care? Are we welcoming?
What’s your directorial vision for the production?
This won’t be a carbon copy of the Broadway production, but everything you love from the original version will still be here. By sharing this story in an immersive way, the story of Gander becomes the Guthrie community’s story by extension.
Our hope is to maximize the space by spilling out visually into the house and including the audience in the energy of the musical as much as possible. We want to erase the barrier between the actor and the audience. There are unique benefits and challenges to producing a musical in the proscenium, and we want to take full advantage of the space that we’re in.
Why should people see the show?
This show is truly for everyone. Even folks who don’t normally come to the theater or who think theater doesn’t have anything to do with them will be able to resonate with what’s onstage. Theater is not supposed to make us comfortable — it is supposed to challenge us and expose us to new ideas. Everyone is welcome as we explore the world of this musical together.
Come From Away is onstage until August 9, 2026. Get tickets today!