Picketwire Players’ Come From Away Shines as Moving 9/11 Anniversary Tribute in La Junta

Description: Picketwire Players’ Come From Away brings a powerful, emotional and uplifting 9/11 anniversary tribute to the La Junta stage, with Director Cameron Salzbrenner leading a standout ensemble cast in Picketwire’s 2026 spring musical...

Come From Away Review

The stars are shining bright on the Picketwire stage this week as Picketwire presents its spring musical Come From Away. Director Cameron Salzbrenner has amassed so much talent in the cast and crew that it is difficult to believe this is a small town, community theatre.

More importantly, this musical rendition is a wonderful tribute to the memory of 9/11 on its 25th anniversary year. Come from Away tells the story of 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers that were diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the United States. This Gander community “Operation Yellow Ribbon” transformed a remote town of fewer than 10,000 residents into a temporary home for thousands of stranded travelers from around the world.

Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the book, music and lyrics for this tender, yet fun musical. They developed Come From Away after visiting Gander on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It first opened on Broadway in 2017. New York Times Theatre Critic, Ben Brantley, called Come From Away “a big, bear hug of a musical”. And Rotten Tomatoes said of it: “Come from Away sifts through the wreckage of tragedy to find hope and the healing power of human connection”.

Joining Director Salzbrenner on this journey is Assistant Director, Tracey Salzbrenner; Music Director, Dean Rees; Choreographer, Rena Ruiz; Sound Technician, Maranatha Hoyt; and Light Technician, Zach Zamora. The set was designed by Cameron Salzbrenner. Tracey Salzbrenner designed the lighting effects. All their expertise combined to bring to life this continuously whirling slice of life. 

Come From Away is powered by a tightly unified ensemble, transforming characters with remarkable speed and precision. Twelve actors portray dozens of characters – which is why the production relies on precision and physicality to move fluidly between characters and individual storylines. Interestingly, the effect is not disorienting. Each shift builds a broader sense of shared experience and reinforces the idea that this story does not belong to any single individual, but to a network of intersecting lives. Even with so many standout performances, the real star is the ensemble itself—precise, responsive, and impossible to separate into parts.

You will find familiar faces and voices in this cast. There is no better delight than to hear songs ringing out through the talented voices of Heather Pidcock-Reed, Kate Pruyn and Kaydence Salazar. These three have delighted audiences for decades and definitely delight in this show. Audiences will be entertained by Jonathan Colson, a musical fixture in the Valley and on the Picketwire stage.

There were some surprises from new talents Alexander Ritter, Aidan Rapp, Jake Pruyn and Karl Ludwig. Their voices and understanding of their characters were superbly played. Jake Pruyn brought humanity and vulnerability to one of his characters, Ali, who faced discrimination because of the misunderstanding and fear of his culture. 

There are some standout moments driven by the power and meaning of the songs themselves. Kelly Jo Smith’s performance of “Me and the Sky” offers a powerful reflection on the life and career of American Airlines pilot, Beverley Bass. She commanded the stage. With back-up from the other women in the cast, the song might also be challenging young women to never give up striving to realize a dream.

“I Am Here” by RaeLynn Domsten centers the grief and uncertainty of her character Hannah as she waits to hear news of her firefighter son in New York. One of the most memorable songs is the “Prayer”. It layers multiple voices, languages and religions into the shared experience of seeking comfort from a higher being. Aidan Rapp starts the scene as he remembers a tune from his childhood wafting from the church. The scene is beautiful in its simplicity and sincerity.

“Stop the World” performed by Desiree’ and Scott Goheen reflects the difficulties of starting a romance in the midst of an emergency when time and geography can bring you together and then tear you apart. The real-life couple bring warmth and a little spice to their characters Diane and Nick.

The decades of theatrical experience on the stage brings to life the complexities of the situation in Gander with such natural delivery that it is easy to believe these characters are old friends. Even strangers stranded on board the landing planes align as their confusion and fear bring them together.

The ensemble cast deserves immense praise for their dedication to this play. The stamina it takes to keep moving, singing and acting for nearly two hours without stopping defies physical capability. Mostly, they deserve praise for bringing to life so many diverse stories with heart and humor. 

From the rhythm and power of the opening song to the finale, the action and emotion does not stop. The audience will find itself toe-tapping and maybe shedding a tear or two. Come From Away is exceptionally moving, deeply emotional, and surprisingly funny. We praise the cast and crew for delivering an excellent production to open Picketwire’s 2026 season. Do not miss this show! It is a story and an experience that will stay with you.

“Come From Away” opens at the Picketwire Center for Performing and Visual Arts on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. The run continues on Friday and Saturday (May 15 and 16) at 7:30 p.m. There is also a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. The Picketwire Center is celebrating 58 years of live theatre in the Arkansas Valley. The Center is located at 802 San Juan Avenue in La Junta, Colorado. Tickets are on sale online: https://www.picketwireplayers.org/tickets.

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