Come From Away’s record-setting run at the Royal Theatre in May has been extended due to overwhelming demand.
The hit Broadway musical about the real life actions of townsfolk from Gander, Newfoundland, during the Sept. 11 attacks was originally scheduled for 16 performances May 10 through May 21. Approximately 20,000 tickets have been sold to date — a substantial amount given that full capacity for a performance at the Royal Theatre is 1,471 seats.
The addition of matinees on May 17-23 and 24, along with a nighttime performance on May 23, now brings the show count to 20.
“This the first time a show has sold this well in Victoria, that I can think of,” said producing partner Henry Kolenko of Broadway in Victoria, the company responsible for bringing musicals Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Chicago, The King and I, and Jersey Boys to the city in recent years.
“In our first 24 hours, we sold 12,000 tickets, which is a ridiculous amount.”
Kolenko compared the feverish sales pace to that of a small-scale Hamilton run. “This is one of the strongest shows that has ever presented itself in the Canadian market, for sure.” If he’s able to sell every available seat, Kolenko said it would be equal to eight per cent of the Greater Victoria population purchasing a ticket.
Tickets go on sale at noon Friday through the Royal McPherson box office. The new dates are expected to sell out immediately, given that tickets for the initial two-week run were purchased at an overwhelming rate when they went on sale in September. Everything about Come from Away, which was co-written by two Canadians, has exceeded expectations thus far, Kolenko said.
“Coming out of a pandemic, selling a show eight months before it opens, who knew what was going to happen.” Adding further dates in unlikely, due to scheduling restraints, he added.
“I’m pretty sure this will be it.”
Tickets can be purchased starting at noon Friday through the Royal McPherson box office (250-386-6121) or rmts.bc.ca.
mdevlin@timescolonist.com
