The Empire’s Come From Away opening night function at The Rock | photos

The Empire Theatre’s community production premiered on Friday, bringing audiences the inspiring true story of a small town that opened their hearts to thousands of people who had ‘come from away’.

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Victoria Winter, Sarah Perrott, Kate Rule, Giuliana Bonel, Kat Keogh and Libby Barke at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

The Broadway musical Come From Away follows the incredible story of the Canadian community that took in more than 7000 stranded passengers after America closed their airspace in the wake of 9/11.

A talented group of Toowoomba performers brought the inspiring true story to life, as the production premiered on Friday, March 14.

Jon Maskell, who plays Mayor Claude, said the production was a story of resilience, hope, and community.

“The real people of Gander took care of all those stranded passengers in 2001, and I hope our audiences can take away the welcoming and caring spirit of those people,” he said.

“In ways big and small, I hope we will all be inspired to put some extra kindness into our community.”

The musical runs until March 23 and you can purchase tickets online at empiretheatre.com.au./whats-on/come-from-away

Scroll the gallery below to see photos from the opening night function held at The Rock.

Paul and Lisa Humberdross at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Beth Watson (left) and Grace Sankey at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Libby Barker, Victoria Winter and Kat Keog at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Victoria Winter, Sarah Perrott, Kate Rule, Giuliana Bonel, Kat Keogh and Libby Barke at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Jo Darbyshire (left) and Paula Crothers at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Donna Kramer, Dana Brown, Jacob Brewer and Adam Brunes at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Dane McGuirk (left) and Lee Faulkner at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Saturday, March 15, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Helen Oldham, Jeanette Wedmaier, Maddison Gangi, Giuliana Bonel, Tim Panitz, Michelle Blair and (front) Kate Brennan at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Mia Rennick and Sam Kirby at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Rosanna Tremewan, Kate Rule, Kat Keogh and Libby Barker at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Sara Kenealy, Jaye Purea, Tracey Ford and Julie Thompson at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Friends of The Empire (from left) Keith Hoffman, Ann Fleming, John O'Loughlin, Judy O'Loughlin, Marjorie Dunn, Simon Pearl, Pam Crawford, Gay Jorgensen, Margaret Turnbull, Vic Turnbull and Richard Chiverrell at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Giuliana Bonel and Liam McGuigan at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Helen Oldham, Jeanette Wedmaier, Maddison Gangi, Giuliana Bonel, Tim Panitz and Michelle Blair at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Stefanie Roberts, Maddison Gangi, Beth Watson and Sarah Fleming at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kris Stewart and Kris Stewart at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Andrew Wielandt, Giuliana Bonel, Kris Stewart, Emily Montgomery, John Pearson, Janelle Fletcher, Jim O'Dea, Suzie Byrne and Bill Armagnacq at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Bill and A'Dele Armagnacq at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kate Brennan (left) and Giuliana Bonel at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Brett Gredig at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Janelle Fletcher and Chris Smith at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kylie McMahon and Cr Tim McMahon at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Sarah and Ben Hunt at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Mayor Geoff McDonald, Lisa McDonald and Giuliana Bonel at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Mayor Geoff McDonald and Lisa McDonald at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Jamie Silk and Minny Webber at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Mayor Geoff McDonald and Lisa McDonald at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Rob Schatz and Helen Austin at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Suzie and Jason Byrne at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kris Stewart and Giuliana Bonel at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Sally and Elmar Zielke at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Christine and Jake Lodder at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Anita and John McVeigh at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Greg Robins, Sid Nell, Anna Barrow and Duncan Richardson at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Cr Edwina Farquhar, Pam Brown, Aime Lawrence, Suzie Holt and Miles Brodie at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Terry Brady, Kate Foy and Leonie Walsh at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Elissa Nairet and Rob Darvell at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kellie Banditt (left) and Maddison Gangi at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Richard Chiverrell at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Janice and Bob Francis at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Julie Thompson (left) and Sara Kenealy at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Janice Holstein (left) and Cr Carol Taylor opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Emily Montgomery (left) and Lauren McAdam at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kyal and Tina Osborne at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Fran and Mark Osborne at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Conchita Armitage (left) and Viola Nicolson at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Judy and John O'Loughlin at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Cr Trevor Manteuffel (left) and David Chiang at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

James Kerwin at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Ella Findlay (left) and Elizabeth Stewart at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Crystal Powell, McKenzee Powell, Stevie Powell and Steve Powell at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kari and Ross Musgrove at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Jeanette Wedmaier (left) and Michelle Blair at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Fiona and Jim O'Dea at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Lisa Brosnan, Tanaya Treadwell and Karen Mortimer at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Sheena and John Liley at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Tim and Sarah Panitz at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Kristy and Justin Hogg at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Karen Gillingham, Russell Reynolds and Emile Yu-Yap at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

At the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away are (from left) Sarah, Izzy and Andrew Wielandt at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Amanda and Mike Brady at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Vic and Margaret Turnbull at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Simon Pearl and Pam Crawford at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Jaye Purea at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Tim and Sarah Panitz at the opening night function for The Empire's Come From Away at The Rock, Friday, March 14, 2025. Picture: Hey Media

Originally published as The Empire’s Come From Away opening night function at The Rock | photos