Come From Away Commemorative Committee

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Honoring The 25th Anniversary Of September 11

September 11, 2001 was a day of profound and devastating loss—one that changed our country and our world forever. For those who lived through it, the memories of the grief, fear and uncertainty of those hours have never fully left us.

But something else has remained with us as well: the memory of how Americans, and our friends around the globe, responded.

The aftermath of 9/11 gave way to courage and compassion and generosity toward strangers. It was defined by a spirit of unity that, in those dark hours, felt both improbable and undeniable. Twenty-five years later as the generation that lived through 9/11 begins to pass the story on to those who did not experience it first-hand, that inspiring response deserves to be remembered—with the gravity and hope it warrants.

Ford’s Theatre will mark this solemn anniversary this fall, and we are asking a small group of leaders to help us do it with the care and purpose it deserves.

The Story At The Heart Of This Effort

Our commemoration centers on our upcoming production of Come From Away (September 10-October 18, 2026), which tells the true story of the 7,000 airline passengers whose flights were grounded in Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001, and of the small town’s 9,000 residents who opened their homes and their hearts to strangers from around the world.

The show does not look away from the grief of that day. It embraces it, as well as the grace that emerged. Audiences on Broadway, in London’s West End and across the country have found in it something rare: a piece of art that honors loss while bearing witness to the best of what we are capable of. That is precisely why it belongs at the center of this commemoration.

Even more special is the return of Come From Away to Ford’s Theatre ten years after its first staging here on the show’s journey to Broadway.

Why Ford’s Theatre

Ford’s Theatre is not simply a venue or historic site. It is a place where American identity has been tested, mourned and renewed. It is where President Lincoln was taken from us, and where his poignant words about “the better angels of our nature” continue to echo. Ford’s Theatre carries forward the unfinished work of his legacy: the belief that what has divided us need not define us, and that art is a vital instrument of healing.

Staging Come From Away here—in this building, on this stage, in this anniversary year—ensures our remembrances of September 11, 2001 recall not just loss and devastation, but also resilience and generosity of spirit. It is a commemoration that only Ford’s Theatre could offer.

About The Commemorative Committee

The Commemorative Committee is a group of leaders who remember the unity our nation displayed in those dark hours, and who share our desire to reignite that spirit today. Committee members underwrite the production and support complementary education and community programs designed to reach thousands of young people locally and nationally, helping new generations understand this crucial chapter in our history.

Committee members will:

• Lend their names to inspire others to join this historic commemoration, recognized alongside Honorary Chairs President and Mrs. Bush and Committee Chairs Anita and Tim McBride as leaders of this effort
• Attend the Opening Night Celebration of Come From Away on September 16, 2026 as honored guests, and receive invitations to Come From Away education and community programs
• Receive exclusive access and recognition benefits throughout the 2026-2027 season