Two pilots, one story: the women behind the captivating story of ‘Come From Away’

Beverley Bass didn't set out to be a role model — or a character in a musical.

Then history intervened.

Bass simply wanted to fly airplanes as a commercial pilot, and she got her wish and eventually became the first woman American Airlines promoted to captain.

But then, on Sept. 11, 2001, the plane she was flying from Paris to Dallas was diverted to Newfoundland, Canada, as the U.S. cleared its skies following the terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C., and Stonycreek Township, Pa. — where Flight 93 crashed.

An oasis of kindness on 9/11:This town welcomed 6,700 strangers amid terror attacks

Bass' plane was one of 38 sent to Gander, Newfoundland, where almost 6,700 people — almost enough to double the town's population — took refuge for five days and waited to be able to continue to their original destinations. In all, 75 planes were sent to Newfoundland and Labrador, where 17,000 people — from almost 100 countries — found themselves taken in and cared for by the Canadian providence's residents.

The preparedness and generosity the Canadians showed to their unexpected guests quickly became a feel-good story in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and the inspiration for Irene Sankoff and David Hein's "Come From Away," which American Theatre Guild presents Nov. 29 to Dec. 4 at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend.

Based on interviews they conducted in Gander at the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the musical — named for what the locals call visitors — explores the sorrow and optimism residents and passengers alike felt in the five days the latter were stuck in limbo.

The actor

Marika Aubrey plays Bass in the national touring production, which she has been with since it began in 2018 and since it resumed touring following the pandemic lockdowns.

Even with lots of Broadway work under her belt in Australia, she says, this show is different from her usual work.

“This show is such a different beast in terms of what is regular musical theater … it's much more like a piece of verbatim theater that just happens to have music that is interwoven in it in a way that's seamless,” Aubrey says.

She says she hasn’t worked in a show where she never leaves the stage or in a show the doesn't allocate leads to any of the roles, which serves to underscore the story's message.

“It is a really beautiful reflection of the teamwork and the spirit of what the people of Newfoundland did during those days,” Aubrey says.

Even with music that is organic to Newfoundland and its Celtic roots, Aubrey feels as though the show is universal.

“We cross into red states and blue states, we go into Canada, we go to small towns and big cities,” she says. “We get this incredible tapestry of how the show sits with people from all walks of life, which reflects the spirit of the show that what makes us the same is much more prevalent than what divides us.”

Aubrey says that playing Bass has made her feel responsible to the young girls who see the show and look up to her as a role model.

“Bev has become a bit of an accidental feminist,” the actor says. “She didn't know in the past she was trailblazing at the time. It's only in retrospect that you can see how incredible her story was. I think it took a Broadway musical and seeing her life story in four minutes and 30 seconds for her to really see what a big deal it is.”

Aubrey says that girls have come up to her at the stage door, explaining how much the song “Me and the Sky” has helped them deal with being in male-dominated jobs.

Although she didn't know the story before she auditioned, the story has become a fabric in her life story.

“This is a story of this tiny moment of … generosity and sweetness that came from really horrific circumstances,” Aubrey says. “It’s a reminder that in humanity, even in the worst of the worst times, there are those sweet pockets of connection and humanity.”

Aubrey hopes that the story will stay with those after it's over and wants audience members to treat others as Gander did to those stuck in their airport.

“I hope everyone's really kind to each other as they're trying to get out of the parking lot,” she says. “Maybe they wouldn't have been if they'd seen a show that didn't focus on just being kind to one another.”

The pilot

The actual pilot from the story, Beverley Bass, also has had her life changed by the musical, becoming an icon for women in piloting.

“There is hardly a week that goes by that I am not contacted either via social media or by mail about young girls wanting to pursue aviation as a career,” Bass says. “The musical has made that happen.”

After landing the plane on Sept. 11 in Gander and leaving after five days, Bass had no idea they would return to Gander 10 years later and then be interviewed by the producers of the musical. Four years later, the show was created with her story included.

“I certainly didn't start out trying to be a role model at all,” she says. “I was just a very stubborn kid that wanted to fly airplanes, but now I'm realizing my career path has had a tremendous influence on the younger generation.”

Although it was unusual to see herself portrayed onstage, she was honored to see the directors understand everyone’s personality. She especially loved the chronicle of her life in “Me and the Sky,” making it the face of the show.

“I was gasping for air, because it was my whole aviation chronicle, and it has taken on a life of its own,” Bass says. “People send me videos of their daughters dancing to this at school functions and talent shows. They've incorporated the song and music into so many aspects of their life, which I could never imagine.”

Bass has seen the show 177 times and still gets choked up at different points in the show. However, having lived those moments, she knows how overwhelmingly optimistic the story is, depicting the best moments in a traumatic moment in history.

“All of a sudden you have forgotten the moment that you are sad about,” Bass says. “It's so uplifting and such a happy show.”

Onstage

● What: American Theatre Guild presents "Come From Away"

● Where: Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St., South Bend

● When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3, 2 p.m. Dec. 3, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4

● Cost: $83.50-$33.50

● For more information: Call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks inspiration for 'Come From Away'