Come From Away Opens APT’s 40th Season at the Victory Theater in Rogers

Arkansas Public Theatre is returning to the Victory Theater in downtown Rogers for the first time since a 2024 tornado forced them out, and they’re doing it with a show that was practically written for this moment.

THE DEETS

🗓️ Friday- Sunday | June 19–21, 2026 & June 26–28, 2026
🕑 June 19-20 & June 26-27: starts 8:00 PM | June 21 & June 28: 2:00 PM matinee
📍 Victory Theater, Downtown Rogers
🎟️ Tickets start at $35
🔗 More info | Tickets | 📧 Group bookings: manager@arkansaspublictheatre.org

The Story Behind the Show

Come From Away is based on what actually happened in Gander, Newfoundland in the days after September 11, 2001. When U.S. airspace shut down, 7,000 airline passengers were grounded in this small Canadian town, a population that nearly doubled overnight. The show follows what happened next: strangers from all different backgrounds figuring out how to take care of each other.

Each actor on stage plays at least two or three roles, shifting between Gander locals and plane passengers. Chairs stand in for airplanes, buses, town council rooms, and a Tim Hortons. The whole thing runs 1 hour and 40 minutes, straight through, with no intermission.

A Homecoming Worth Seeing

Choreographer Alex Barrett was in rehearsals for Rent when the tornado hit the Victory Theater in 2024. He’s back on that same stage for this production, which opens APT’s 40th season. Actor Asher Coates, who plays multiple roles in the show, says the heart of it is simple: people do better when they show up for each other. That lands a little differently when you know the theater itself spent two years getting back on its feet.

Before You Head In

The show covers 9/11, so while it’s a story about community and kindness, it also moves through fear, grief, and separation. Kids 10 and up should do fine if they know what they’re walking into.

Season passes for APT’s full 40th season are coming soon, so it’s worth checking the website if you want to lock in your seat for the rest of the lineup.

Your Ticket to the Victory Theater

Grab your seats now. If you’re planning a group night out, email the executive director at manager@arkansaspublictheatre.org for details.