'Come From Away' breaks UW-Platteville summer attendance record

The Platteville Summer Arts Festival's production of "Come From Away" set a new attendance record. 

Six performances of the Broadway hit at the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts over the last two weeks of July drew a total of 1,478 people, said Ann Farrelly, the UW-Platteville theatre professor who directed the production. That breaks the old PSAF attendance record of 921 people, set during six performances of "Into the Woods" in 2024, Farrelly said. 

"We are so pleased that this musical resonated with our audiences this summer and that so many people got to experience this remarkable story told by these amazing artists," Farrelly said. "Our mission has always been to provide high-quality, affordable theatre opportunities for our community using the many talented people who are a part of this community."

"Come From Away" is based on the true story of how an airport in Gander, Newfoundland, took in 38 planes and nearly 7,000 passengers diverted from their destinations following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The play features music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It debuted on Broadway in 2017 and won a Tony Award. 

Now in its ninth year, the Platteville Summer Arts Festival provides summer music and theatre programming through the Department of Performing and Visual Arts.