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Tyler Olshansky-Bailon,
backstage during the national tour of Come from Away |
by Gil Benbrook
Tyler Olshansky-Bailon has appeared in numerous shows across the country but is making her national tour debut in the Tony winning Come from Away, which comes to Mesa Arts Center for five performances, November 15-17.
Come from Away recounts the true events of September 11, 2001, when 38 planes were redirected to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, after US airspace was closed. Nearly 7,000 passengers found themselves stranded with nowhere to go. The residents of Gander quickly sprang into action, providing shelter, food, and care for those who had landed unexpectedly. As the town's population suddenly doubled, the "plane people," many of whom spoke little English and had no immediate way to contact their loved ones, faced the uncertainty of their situation. Despite their initial fears and differences, both groups discovered they had more in common than they realized. The musical weaves together the stories of numerous real individuals, creating a heartfelt narrative about community and our shared humanity.
Olshansky-Bailon has played some heavy hitting roles in beloved shows, including Eponine in Les Miserables, Maureen in Rent, and Antonia in The Man of La Mancha. But Come from Away isn't your typical musical as its entire 12 member cast play dozens of parts, both the stranded people on the planes and the empathetic residents of Gander. With a quick change of dialect, an instant addition of a piece of costume, and subtle shifts in their body language, the six men and six women in the cast morph from one role to the next.
In between tour stops in Montana and Utah, Olshansky-Bailon sat down to answer some questions about the roles she plays in the show, the challenges of bringing so many different characters to life on stage, meeting the real person she portrays in Come from Away and and honorning the events of September 11.
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Tyler Olshansky-Bailon (far left) and the national tour cast of Come from Away
photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade |
How does it feel to be part of a production that tells such an uplifting, true story of kindness and compassion?
Tyler Olshansky-Bailon: "I feel extremely lucky and blessed. I believe there is no other show quite like Come From Away, so to be a part of it is definitely a privilege. "
Can you tell us a bit about the characters you play and which ones you connect with the most, and why?
"I play Diane, she was visiting her son on a vacation and flying back to the US on 9/11 when her plane was grounded in Gander, Newfoundland. She’s from Texas, and had been divorced for a while. She meets Nick from England who is on his way to a work conference in the states. They meet and (spoiler alert!) fall in love. I also play a handful of Newfoundlanders who help with ensuring that the “Plane People” are taken care of when they arrive in Gander.
I connected with Diane a lot in the sense that my own love story is very similar to hers. I met my own husband who is also from a different country (Italy), and early on in our relationship we found ourselves unwillingly separated due to the pandemic. We had to learn how to navigate a long-distance relationship, and didn’t know how it would work or when we’d get to see each other again. It was a complicated feeling of the guilt of finding love in a time when others were experiencing so much grief."
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Tyler Olshansky-Bailon has been performing since a
very young age |
Since Come From Away is based on real events, how did you prepare to bring authenticity to your characters and honor the people represented in the story?
"I read a lot and watched many documentaries about the events and Newfoundland. There are a lot of great documentaries and books that detail the events during that week. However, we were encouraged to be ourselves and bring our own individual personalities and experiences into our roles. I think this aspect brings so much authenticity to the story.
I also, alongside my co-star John Anker Bow who plays Nick in the show, had the absolute privilege to meet our real-life counterparts over Zoom. John and I reached out just to introduce ourselves, and Nick and Diane were so warm and lovely and happily met up with us. We ended up getting carried away and chatted for a couple hours. It was so incredible to get to know them on a personal level and hear their experience straight from them. It’s not very often you get to meet and form a friendship with someone you are playing in a show."
What was the most challenging part of learning the script and score, given the show’s unique style of storytelling with the actors transitioning so quickly between roles?
The most challenging part was that we only had about three weeks of rehearsal. So we had to learn the show quickly. The musical is very pared down and we only use chairs, tables, props and a couple clothing pieces to depict the change of scene or character. The “chair-ography” as we lovingly call it was extremely difficult as we have to memorize which chair goes where and when and we have to move quickly in between transitions.
How do you maintain the energy and emotional intensity of the show over a long national tour, especially for a show that tells such a deeply emotional and inspiring story.?
"I think it’s important to find new moments and connections when you can, there’s so much going on around you and there’s always something new that I notice that someone is doing. Like, “oh I never noticed that this actor is reacting in that way in that part,” and it inspires me to make my own new choices every night. The emotion and inspiration element of this story is powerful to me that it never gets stale."
How have your personal memories of the events of September 11, or interactions with people who experienced 9/11 and/or the events in Gander, influenced your performance?
"That day is stamped on my memory forever. I remember the shock, confusion, and despair I experienced while watching the news that day as a teenager and I use that feeling every night especially as Diane. The people that were on the planes had no idea what was going on until they arrived in Gander and finally had time to learn what had happened."
What has been the most memorable audience reaction or interaction you've experienced while on tour?
"The audience reactions are truly memorable every single show because of the impact it has on them. I would say that performing the show on 9/11 was truly an experience because I felt like the company and the audience were kind of sharing the experience of that day together."
How does the musical’s message of unity and sense of community resonate differently with audiences in different parts of the country?
"Performing the show in Canada was very magical because they understood a lot of the Canadian references and humor, and there’s a sense of pride (and also lack of surprise) at the way the Newfoundlanders just jumped to help without a second thought. So far in the states, I would say every single city experiences that sense of unity and community when they they see the show."
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Tyler Olshansky-Bailon (foreground, far left) and the national tour cast of Come from Away
photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade |
As an actor, how do you prepare emotionally for a show that balances humor, grief, and hope in such a tight timeframe?
"In rehearsal, we are directed to simply tell the story and not get caught up in the emotions, and just allow the audience to experience all the feelings. The show just barrels through so fast that we simply just have to keep up with it, and the brilliant writing does a lot of the work for us."
Do you have a favorite moment or song in the show, and why does it resonate with you?
"My favorite part is “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere.” It’s towards the end when everyone is in the plane returning to America, and every character is expressing how the events changed them forever. It’s a powerful moment of celebration, growth, unity, coping with grief, and leaving a part of you behind. I have yet to not get emotional in that part."
What do you hope audiences take away from the show, especially those who may not be familiar with the story of Gander, and is there any specific message you hope resonates with them?
"I hope the audiences see that there are still good people in this world. We are in a time of political unrest and division and people are scared and frustrated. The events in Gander are a testament to the fact that there are humans out there that just want to help. I think this show has the ability to restore one’s faith in humanity. My hope is that people take comfort in the kindness of strangers and hopefully be inspired to also provide that comfort to others in need."
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