Pilot Community Theater interest

I am reaching out on behalf of Ridgedale Community Theater, located in Troy, Michigan, to formally express our enthusiasm and readiness to serve as a pilot theater when the performance rights for Come From Away become available. Our dedicated team at Ridgedale, along with the supportive arts community in the greater Detroit area, is fully committed to bringing the heartwarming and impactful story of Come From Away to life on our stage, ensuring that the musical’s profound messages of kindness, resilience, and global interconnectedness reach audiences within our community.

With over 96 years of community theater experience, Ridgedale has established itself as a cornerstone of cultural life in Southeast Michigan. We consistently produce top-quality theatrical performances with high production values, and we have a loyal audience base that spans multiple generations. Our theater's mission is to promote empathy, understanding, and shared experiences through the arts—all values central to Come From Away's powerful narrative.

Ridgedale Community Theater is especially well-equipped to support a production of this caliber. Here are some of the ways we can serve as an ideal pilot location:

Experienced Production Team: Our staff and volunteer base include seasoned directors, designers, and technical experts who have tackled complex productions with great success. Recent productions, such as Fun Home demonstrate our ability to manage detailed staging, intricate choreography, and high-caliber musical performances.

Deep Community Engagement: Ridgedale has a long-standing relationship with local schools, nonprofits, and cultural organizations, all of which are eager to support and attend productions with strong community impact. We anticipate that Come From Away will resonate deeply with our audience, given Michigan’s rich history of diversity and mutual support among communities.

Strong Marketing and Outreach Capabilities: Ridgedale Community Theater has an active marketing team skilled in engaging diverse audiences, leveraging both traditional media and digital platforms. We are confident that we can create a robust promotional campaign to ensure Come From Away reaches and moves as many people as possible.

We are particularly excited to pilot Come From Away because of its extraordinary message of human connection during times of adversity—a message that resonates strongly with our own values and those of the communities we serve. We believe that bringing this story to our stage will not only offer an exceptional experience for our audiences but also provide MTI with valuable insights into the musical’s impact and reception in regional theaters.

Thank you for considering Ridgedale Community Theater as a candidate for this pilot opportunity. Please let us know if you would like additional information about our theater, resources, or how we envision staging this remarkable production. We are eager to support Come From Away's journey from Broadway to community theaters and to share its message of compassion and resilience with our audience.