The Empire's Cast of Hit Musical Come From Away is Revealed

Among the talented ensemble are a professional musical theatre star, a Newfoundland expatriate, a country music recording artist, and an opera singer, ensuring this production will be both authentic and extraordinary.

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded airline passengers and the small Newfoundland community that welcomed them with open arms when US airspace was closed in the wake of 9/11.

Notable inclusions in the cast include Diana Holt, a professional performer and recording artist returning to The Empire stage following her memorable lead role as ‘Donna Sheridan’ in Mamma Mia! (2020), and Karen Rock, a Newfoundland expat making her Empire Theatre debut, who brings a genuine connection to the show’s Canadian roots.

Joining them is country music artist Melanie Martin, whose debut album Our Way produced two Australian Top 10 Country singles, and Jon Maskell (The Empire’s The Phantom of the Opera), an operatic baritone celebrated for his performances with Opera Queensland, Opera Australia, and Victorian Opera.

Making up the talented group on stage is Dylan Ashton (The Empire’s Cinderella & Kinky Boots), Vicki Bravery (The Empire’s Cinderella & Mamma Mia!), Isaac Burton (Toowoomba Choral Society’s School of Rock), Lisa Christensen (The Empire’s The Phantom of the Opera & Mary Poppins), Taz Clifford (The Empire’s The Boy From Oz & Toowoomba Choral Society’s Les Misérables) Lydia Cunnington (The Empire’s Cinderella), Anna Grabham (The Empire’s Cinderella), Sarah Holcombe (Toowoomba Choral Society’s Les Misérables), Nimar Kaur, Jenny Kempe (The Empire’s Cinderella & The Boy From Oz), Kwadwo Kyei, Miranda Robinson (Shoebox Theatre Company’s Little Shop of Horrors), Dan Stewart (Shoebox Theatre Company’s Avenue Q), Brendan Thomas-Ryland (Toowoomba Choral Society’s Les Misérables), Christopher Thomson (Toowoomba Choral Society’s Les Misérables) Jo Tooley (The Empire’s Wicked & Shoebox Theatre Company’s Avenue Q), and Ben Tupas, as well as a dynamic live band of local musicians.

Rehearsals begin on January 18, with the talented ensemble diving into the remarkable true story of unity, humanity and hope before opening a six-show season from March 14-23.

The ensemble cast was selected after an extensive audition process which saw the creative team, led by New York-based, Australian Director/Choreographer David Wynen, seeing talent from across the South-East Queensland region.

“In casting Come From Away, we were looking for some specific elements in our auditionees; we needed to see a strong ability to tell a story and we wanted to see truth; the truth of what it would be like if they were the ones put into the situation we are putting on stage,” Mr Wynen said.

“This show is members of the Toowoomba community telling the true story of the Gander community and how the people there stepped up in a time of tragedy and crisis, something we know our audience here will really connect with.”

The Empire General Manager, Giuliana Bonel, was thrilled to finally reveal the cast after an extensive audition process.

“It’s a credit to the enormous talent pool in the Toowoomba and surrounding regions that such an extraordinary and strong cast was assembled,” she said.

“Come From Away is a remarkable story and I look forward to seeing the skill, energy and passion of this dynamic group as they all bring something unique to the production.

Leading the creative team of Come From Away is Director/Choreographer David Wynen (42^nd St, Sweet Charity, Cabaret, Sunset Mirage, The Addams Family) with musical direction by Owen Clarke (Auckland Philharmonia, Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra, Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal NZ Navy Band), set design by Frances Story (The Empire’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Mamma Mia!, Friends! The Musical Parody), lighting design by Ben Hunt (The Empire’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, We Will Rock You! & Mamma Mia!), sound design by Steve Alexander (The Empire’s We Will Rock You! & EssGee’s Pirates of Penzance), costume design by Debra Nairn (The Empire’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Boy From Oz & Wicked), vocal coaching by Jess Berwick (The Empire’s Mamma Mia! & We Will Rock You) and dialect coaching by Matilda Award nominated actor Kate Foy (The Revisionist by Jesse Eisenberg – Refraction Theatre, Adrift – Counterpilot, Joe vs. Carole – NBC/Stan).

Come From Away performs 14 – 23 March 2025 in the stunning Empire Theatre’s 1500-seat auditorium.

The matinee performance of Come From Away on Sunday 16 March will be Auslan interpreted followed by a post-show Q&A session.

For more information or to book tickets, contact The Empire on 1300 655 299 or visit empiretheatre.com.au.