Selah Theatre Project to Open New Winchester Arts Center With ‘Come From Away’

Selah Theatre Project will open its first community theatre musical at the new Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts this September with a production of Come From Away, timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The production opens Sept. 11, 2026, at the new arts center at 302 N. Braddock St. in Winchester and will run Sept. 11-13 and Sept. 18-20.

Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come From Away tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, after U.S. airspace was closed in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The musical follows the travelers and the residents who welcomed them into their homes, schools and community spaces, offering food, shelter and support during a period of uncertainty and fear.

Selah Theatre Project said the show was chosen in part for its focus on compassion, resilience, and the strength of community.

“As I near the possibility of no longer being as active in theatre, I am looking to do shows with purpose. This show has such a beautiful purpose,” said Joanne Thompson, who plays Hannah, a character facing the possible loss of her son while stranded in Gander.

“It reminds us of humanity, and the good that happens when we come together and care for one another,” Thompson said. “I hope audiences will feel the compassion captured in this show.”

The production is directed by Bleu Do’zia, with music direction by Amber Shayeb and choreography by Jason Conrad.

For Selah Theatre Project, the production also marks a major milestone.

It will be the first show staged in the organization’s new permanent home, the Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts.

The center is named in honor of Vivienne L. Jackson, a longtime Winchester resident and owner of the former Ruth’s Tea Room. Selah Theatre Project said the Sanctuary is intended to serve as a home for performance, education and community gathering.

The nonprofit theatre company serves Warren County, Winchester, and the greater Shenandoah Valley and is known for productions that focus on social issues, conversation, and community connection.

Come From Away has become one of the most widely recognized stage works connected to the events of Sept. 11, telling a story not of the attacks themselves, but of what happened in one small Canadian town when thousands of strangers suddenly needed help.

The story mixes humor and music with the fear and uncertainty of the moment, while focusing on the people who responded by opening their homes and caring for people they had never met.

The timing of Selah Theatre Project’s opening night gives the production added meaning.

Sept. 11, 2026, marks 25 years since the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania and changed air travel, national security, and daily life across the United States.

By opening Come From Away on that anniversary, the theatre company is highlighting a different part of the story: the acts of kindness that followed.

Tickets are $20 per person, and organizers are recommending advance purchase because the production is expected to draw strong interest.

For ticket information, contact the box office manager, Amber Shayeb, at amber@selahtheatreproject.org or call 540-260-4030.

More information about Selah Theatre Project, its current season, and upcoming events is available at www.selahtheatreproject.org.

The Vivienne L. Jackson Sanctuary for the Arts is located at 302 N. Braddock St., Winchester, VA 22601.

Selah Theatre Project can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/selahtheatreproject.