Come From Away: A Story About Strangers, Community, and a Couple Named Kevin

What happens when thousands of strangers suddenly find themselves stranded far from home, frightened, disconnected from the people they love, and completely dependent on the kindness of people they’ve never met? That’s the story at the heart of Come From Away, and on Thursday, September 17, Queer Arts Club is heading to KCRep to experience it together.

We’ll start the evening with a pre-show Piano Party at 5:30 PM before heading into the theater for the 7 PM performance. Queer Arts Club attendees also unlock 20% off tickets to the show.

Many of us can remember exactly where we were when we first heard about the September 11 attacks. As U.S. airspace closed, 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Suddenly, a small community found itself responsible for thousands of frightened strangers from around the world.

Come From Away tells the stories of the passengers and locals whose lives collided during those extraordinary days. There is fear and uncertainty in the story, but there is also an enormous amount of humor, music, generosity, and humanity.

And among those passengers were two men named Kevin.

Meet the Kevins in Come From Away

Kevin Tuerff and his partner, Kevin Jung, were traveling together when their flight was diverted to Newfoundland. For a gay couple in September 2001, arriving unexpectedly in a small, rural community came with another layer of uncertainty. How open could they be about their relationship? How would they be received?

What they discovered surprised them. The people they encountered offered hospitality and acceptance at a moment when they were already frightened and far from home.

That makes the Kevins’ story particularly meaningful for Queer Arts Club. Come From Away takes place more than a decade before marriage equality became the law across the United States. Their story offers a glimpse into what queer couples navigated not very long ago, while also reminding us of something beautifully ordinary. Queer people worry about their partners, argue, laugh, travel, fall in love, and look for somewhere they feel safe and welcome just like everyone else.

In KCRep’s production, the Kevins are played by Noah Lindquist and Adam Qutaishat. One of the real-life Kevins, Kevin Tuerff, has continued writing and speaking about what happened in Newfoundland and how those few days changed his understanding of gratitude, compassion, and kindness.

You can read more about Kevin Tuerff’s experience and reflections in his piece, “Going Deeper with Gratitude and Compassion: A Come From Away Story.”

Why This One Feels Right for Queer Arts Club

At its heart, Come From Away asks a question that feels particularly relevant to what we’re building with Queer Arts Club: How quickly can strangers become community?

Sometimes belonging happens where you expect it. Sometimes it happens because your plane lands somewhere you never intended to go. And sometimes it happens because you decide to buy a theater ticket, walk into a room full of people you don’t know yet, and sit down next to someone new.

That’s a big part of why Queer Arts Club exists. We love great theater, but we also want to create opportunities for queer people across Kansas City to experience the arts together, meet one another, and build relationships around something more than a night at the bar.

So grab a friend, bring a date, or come by yourself. Coming solo is absolutely encouraged.

Join Us September 17

Queer Arts Club: Come From Away at KCRepThursday, September 175:30 PM | Queer Arts Club Piano Party7:00 PM | Come From Away

Your $8 Queer Arts Club registration gets you into our pre-show Piano Party and unlocks an exclusive 20% off promo code for your KCRep performance ticket. Your performance ticket is purchased separately through KCRep.

Grab yours and come experience a story about what can happen when strangers decide to show up for one another.

Register at QueerArtsClub.com