Broadway in Fort Lauderdale is thrilled to announce that the national tour of Come From Away will kick off its 2021/2022 Broadway season! A Broadway musical about the true story of the small town that welcomed the world, Come From Away will make its Fort Lauderdale debut at the Broward Center on Wednesday, November 3. The two week engagement will run through Sunday, November 14.
The touring production of Come From Away will star Marika Aubrey (Lincoln Center’s South Pacific), Kevin Carolan (Disney’s Newsies), Harter Clingman (Peter and The Starcatcher), Nick Duckart (In the Heights), Chamblee Ferguson, Sharriese Hamilton, Christine Toy Johnson (The Music Man), Julie Johnson (Memphis), James Earl Jones II (The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess), Julia Knitel (Beautiful), Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific), Sharone Sayegh (The Band’s Visit), Jenny Ashman, Jane Bunting, Amelia Cormack, Aaron Michael Ray, Kilty Reidy and Brandon Springman.
On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all. A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical has won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), 4 Olivier Awards (London), including “Best New Musical,” 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical,” 3 Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical,” 4 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (North American Tour) including “Best Production,” 4 Helen Hayes Awards (D.C.) including “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” 4 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards (Seattle) including “Excellence in Production of a Musical,” 6 San Diego Critics Circle Awards including “Outstanding New Musical,” 3 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards including “Best New “Outstanding Production,” and the 2017 Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Toronto).
It was a pleasure to sit down with hometown boy Nick Duckart for this exclusive Hotspots interview.
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- Nick Duckart
At what age did you begin performing?
I started performing as a sophomore in high school. I was taking a drama class in Hialeah High school to try and get an easy class to up my GPA, but I fell in love with telling a story and the rest is history.
What was your first paid gig?
It was when I did a play with Mad Cat Theater in Miami, when I was still a college student. I won’t disclose the exact amount of money, but it wasn’t very much. However, it was an incredible experience.
When did you know performing would be your career?
One year I was watching the Tony awards and I saw Idina Menzel perform as Elphaba from Wicked, and there was something about the magic of that moment. I knew I wanted to perform forever after I saw that.
Are you excited to be back in Miami, the city that you were brought up in?
So excited. My entire family and all my friends are going to come see the show.
What’s your fantasy role (a role you haven’t played but want to)?
I would say Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. The music in that show is absolutely gorgeous and he gets to sing some of the prettiest songs ever written. Hopefully when I get older, I can play that role.
What did you do/accomplish during the pandemic?
I was able to keep busy during the pandemic, all whilst getting to spend more quality time with my family. Being on the road means a lot of time away, and the pandemic gave us an opportunity to reconnect with those we love. I was also able to return to my real estate career in NY. I played “Arthur” in a production of CAMELOT at Asolo Rep in Sarasota. I participated in numerous zoom readings and taught master classes. My wife and I traveled a bit, too. The pandemic created a major disruption in our lives, but I tried to make the most of it while being as safe and healthy as possible.
How excited are you to get back to performing for live audiences?
So excited! It had been 18 months since we last performed Come From Away in front of an audience. None of us could have ever imagined being away for that long. What makes theatre so special is the connection between the creators of the art, and the audiences who sit together in a room, and for a couple of hours, are all united in this moment of storytelling. We need our audiences, and we are so happy to be able to bring them back into the picture. It truly is amazing.
What should our readers expect from this touring company of “Come From Away”?
You can expect an incredible story about humanity and kindness, It will make you feel better leaving the theater then you did when you came in. You will laugh, cry and laugh again. You are going to see a true ensemble play of 12 actors telling the story of how a small town in Newfoundland came together to help in a time of darkness for your country.
This show is based on a completely true story and we play real life characters.
And the people of Miami will get to see one of their own.
For more information on Nick, you can go to his website Nick Duckart.com or follow him on all social media channels /Nick Duckart. For more information about the show, go to: ComeFromAway.com.
Tickets are still available for Broadway’s return! Tickets for Come from Away are available at the Broward Center AutoNation Box Office, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312, browardcenter.org or by calling 954.462.0222. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling 954.660.6307. Ticket prices start at $30.50*. All guests age 2 and up must wear a suitable face covering while inside the theater. In addition, all guests age 12 and up must provide proof of a recent negative test.
