Hello theater friends!

Are you a theater prepping for COME FROM AWAY performances?

Are your actors portraying history they did not live through or don’t remember? Even the actors who lived through 9/11 struggle to parse though their memories in a way that appropriately activates their characters in COME FROM AWAY; as an actor who needs to play a time when there was new information coming in at every moment.

A quick 9/11History Google search brings an overwhelming amount of information full of rabbit holes and politics. What is essential information for your actors as they portray characters impacted by that day and the days surrounding it?

Let me help.

I have designed a packet which assimilates the history your actors need to know into information they need as actors.

Don’t play the history, embody the history.

Who am I?

I am an actor, an educator, and a New Yorker who lived through this moment in history.

I am a person who loves Come From Away. I am deeply interested in helping the “Never Forget” legacy of those tragic events.

I am a person who has spent a great deal of time in Newfoundland and knows all of the “real people” on a personal level.

Most importantly, I am an original cast member (Diane and others.) My eight year history with Come From Away, from the original production at the La Jolla Playhouse through the final performance on Broadway, means I was part of a multi-year rehearsal and development process of this beautiful show. I know what helped us—and what didn't—from the inside out.

What is it?

Recently I built and taught a dramaturgy packet for the students of the renowned Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) in New York City as they prepped for their production. I am on faculty there, so, it made sense for me to help out. I didn’t plan to share this information with other theaters, but over the days I realized the information I was teaching would be helpful to anyone staging Come From Away.

Whether you’re a professional theater, an educational institution, or a local show, this information is crucial.

I made a pitch to Musical Theatre International (MTI), who licenses Come From Away, and they agreed, inviting me to share my ideas with a virtual town hall of nearly 850 participants, and, I became the official dramaturgy service affliated with MTI.

I have created Sharon Wheatley’s official COME FROM AWAY DRAMATURGY PACKET which will guide directors through a dramaturgy session. Interested in having me lead the discussion? You can bring me in virtually or in person to guide your cast. See pricing information below!

A portion of all proceeds goes to The Educational Theatre Foundation and The Lewisporte Area Flight 15 Scholarship Fund

What's available?

The Dramaturgy Packet $75 (Available July 15, 2026)

A comprehensive guide to what history your cast members need to know from the day of and time around 9/11/2001 to best play their roles in Come From Away. Full of streamlined information curated by Sharon Wheatley, an original cast member since the first professional production in 2015 through the entire Broadway run, including the Apple TV proshot and the Original Broadway Cast Recording. Sharon is also an educator and a playwright, making her perspective unique and effective.

Includes timelines of that day from three perspectives:

-What was happening in the US

-What was happening in the air from the pilots' perspective

-What was happening in Gander

Includes details about the history of the show, the rehearsal process and writing of the show

Includes detailed information about Gander, Newfoundland

Sharon has been to Gander three times and even lived there for an entire summer. Reminder-proper pronunciation is NewfoundLAND. Rhymes with Understand and Disneyland. Trust me on this!

Includes a discussion about the use of religious themes in the show

Includes exercises to prepare the company to perform Come From Away

Includes a description of the major characters and their real-life counterparts from Sharon's perspective (she's friends with most of them and might even know how to reach them should your actors want to meet them.)

Includes suggestions for videos to watch 

ZOOM with Sharon plus *Dramaturgy Packet $200 (You get the packet for free) Most Popular Choice!

In a two hour Zoom session, Sharon will lead your company through her dramaturgy packet, and do a specially curated moment by moment video presentation of the morning of 9/11. She will also answer questions as time allows. Additional Zoom time is $100 per hour. *Note: the packet will not be sent until July 15, 2026, but Sharon is available now to run the Zoom session.

IN PERSON with Sharon 

Sharon can also come to you!

If you would like Sharon in person, please email her directly at Sharon@sharonwheatley.com to discuss a budget that works for everyone.

You get the packet, the presentation, and lots of answered questions. This can also be a talkback with the board of your theater, a cocktail reception with donors and cast, coaching sessions, or whatever best serves your community. 

Thank you for your interest. I look forward to sharing with all of you,

Sharon