Archbishop Stepinac High School will present a regional production of the acclaimed Broadway musical “Come From Away” on April 25, featuring Broadway performer Q. Smith, an original cast member, and retired FDNY Battalion Commander and 9/11 first responder Jack Oehm. The production coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. “Come From
Away” tells the true story of nearly 7,000 airline passengers who were stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, in
the days following the attacks, and the extraordinary response of the small Canadian community that welcomed them.

A Broadway Original Returns to the Story

Q. Smith originated the role of Hannah in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Come From Away. She will attend opening night and work directly with Stepinac students throughout the performance. “I am honored to be part of this production with these students,” Smith said. “Come From Away is about humanity at its best, and it means a great deal to see
young performers carrying that story forward.”

A First Responder Who Lived It

She will be joined by retired FDNY Battalion Commander Jack Oehm, a current board member of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Oehm was off duty on September 11, 2001, and responded to Ground Zero following the collapse of both towers. “Being with students who are telling this story is meaningful,” Oehm said. “It is important that the next generation understands both what happened and how people responded in the days that followed.”