<div>Three weeks before opening night, the theatre where we were scheduled to perform Come From Away was damaged by fire.
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<div><strong><em>Thankfully, no one was hurt.</em></strong>
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<div>But after a year of rehearsals, planning and preparation, we suddenly had no stage. We just finished our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1aC5mVjgGo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video trailer</a> to promote our story!
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<div>We are <strong>'musicalgroep The Cast'</strong>, a <a href="https://thecast.nl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">community musical theatre group</a> from Haarlem, the Netherlands. For the past year, we have been preparing Come From Away - the musical inspired by the remarkable true story of Gander, Newfoundland, where thousands of stranded airline passengers were welcomed after September 11, 2001.
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<div>It is a story about what can happen when ordinary people choose generosity in an extraordinary moment.
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<div>Now, unexpectedly, we are asking for a little of that same spirit of kindness.
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<div><strong>We found a new home. Now we need help getting there.</strong>
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<div>After the fire at the Kennemer Theater on September 30, cancelling the production would have been the easiest option.
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<div>Instead, within three days, we found a new venue: <strong>De Lichtfabriek in Haarlem. </strong>That means our performances on <strong>October 23 and 24 can still happen.</strong>
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<div>But moving an entire musical production into a different space at the last minute comes with costs we never planned for.
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<div>Our <strong>$25,000 fundraising goal </strong>will help cover expenses such as:
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<li>adapting our sets and staging to the new venue
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<li>lighting, sound and technical equipment
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<li>transportation and logistics
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<li>venue setup and audience facilities
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<div><em>Every donation helps us bridge the gap created by this unexpected move.</em>
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<div><strong>Why this show means so much to us</strong>
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<div>There is something especially meaningful about asking for help while preparing to tell the story of Gander.
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<div>After 9/11, communities in Newfoundland opened their doors, homes and hearts to thousands of strangers. That story of generosity crossed borders and oceans.
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<div>It reached us in the Netherlands.
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<div>It inspired us to spend a year bringing this production to life. And now, just weeks before opening, we find ourselves relying on the kindness of people we may never meet.
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<div>“When we heard about the fire, it felt as though a year of work might disappear overnight. Finding a new venue gave us hope. Now every donation helps bring us one step closer to opening night.” - <strong>Daphne Mulder, chairwoman The Cast</strong>
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<div><strong>Your support does more than save one show</strong>
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<div>Without additional support, the unexpected relocation costs would have to come from the reserves that allow The Cast to produce future community theatre.
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<div>Your donation helps us put Come From Away on stage now while also protecting our ability to create future productions.
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<div>Whether you can give <strong>$10, $25, $50, $100 or any amount at all</strong>, we are grateful. And if you cannot donate, sharing this page with someone who knows and loves this story would mean just as much.
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<div><strong>A special thank you to Canada and the United States</strong>
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<div>To our friends in <strong>Canada</strong>: the story of Newfoundland hospitality has inspired people far beyond your borders, including all of us here in Haarlem.
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<div>To our friends in the <strong>United States</strong>: we know this story is connected to one of the most painful days in American history. We hope our production can honor one of the extraordinary acts of humanity that followed.
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<div>We are grateful to everyone who helps us keep telling this story.
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<div><strong>If we exceed our goal</strong>
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<div>Any funds raised above the $25,000 needed for the relocation will be donated to <a href="https://the911legacy.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the 9/11 Legacy Foundation</a>
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<div>We will also post updates as we prepare for opening night, including photos from our new venue and information about how the donations are being used.
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<div><strong>The fire changed our plans. It doesn’t have to change our ending.</strong>
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<div>We chose <strong>Come From Away </strong>because it is a story about people showing up for one another when circumstances suddenly change.
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<div>We never expected that, three weeks before our own opening night, we would need to ask others to do the same for us.
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<div>If this story has ever meant something to you, if you believe in community, kindness, theatre, or simply helping people keep going when something unexpected happens, we would be deeply grateful for your support.
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<div><strong>Donate if you can. Share if you can. Help us make the show go on.</strong>
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<div>From Haarlem, with gratitude and with inspiration from Newfoundland.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="null" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/108744647_1791302450237006_r.jpg" width="100%" />

Chris Schep

Lindsey den Teuling

Glenn van der Windt

Marieke Steenbakkers

Claudia en Esther Wielheesen

Inge de Jong

Anonymous

Arlette Schraa

Erik-Jan Storm van Leeuwen

Barbara Pearson

Mariska Gnade

Rolando Sanabria

Eva Brouwer

Siobhan Jong

Paul Dolk

Cisca de Wit

From fire to hope: help us make the show go on!

From fire to hope: help us make the show go on!

Still €8,848 to go. Help us build momentum.