Character guide
Beverley Bass
from Come From Away
Beverley Bass is the real life American Airlines captain grounded in Gander, Newfoundland, in Come From Away, the 2017 musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
- Show
- Come From Away
- Broadway premiere
- 2017
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Sankoff & Hein
Beverley Bass: role facts
- Originated on Broadway by
- Jenn Colella (2017)
- Notable performers
- Colella earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical; Becky Gulsvig and Rachel Tucker later played the role on Broadway, and Tucker originated it in the West End.
- Voice type and range
- Mezzo-soprano (belt), G3 to E5
- Songs Beverley Bass sings
- Me and the Sky (with the women)
- 38 Planes (Reprise)/Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere (with company)
Who is Beverley Bass?
Beverley Bass was one of American Airlines's first female captains, and she is depicted piloting a flight diverted to Gander on September 11, 2001, when American airspace suddenly closed. Stranded with her passengers and fellow crew members, she becomes a steady, capable presence amid the fear and uncertainty of that week.
Her story also reflects on her trailblazing career as a woman breaking into commercial aviation, giving the show a personal throughline about resilience and professional identity alongside its portrait of the town of Gander's hospitality.
Beverley's role in Come From Away
Beverley Bass is a lead role within the show's ensemble structure, centered on the reflective solo Me and the Sky, which traces her career from childhood dreams of flying through the events of September 11, and requires a strong, controlled voice capable of carrying that extended narrative number.
Jenn Colella originated the role on Broadway and received a Tony nomination for the performance, and the real Beverley Bass has become closely associated with the show, having met many of the actors who have played her over the years.
Beverley Bass: frequently asked questions
Was Beverley Bass a real airline captain?
Yes. Beverley Bass became American Airlines' first female captain in October 1986, ten years after the airline hired her in 1976 as its third female pilot. She was captaining a flight from Paris to Dallas when it was diverted to Gander on September 11, 2001.
Did Beverley Bass fly with an all-female crew?
Yes. On December 30, 1986, Bass captained the first all-female crew in American Airlines history, flying from Washington, D.C., to Dallas, about two months after she became the airline's first female captain.
How long did Beverley Bass fly for American Airlines?
Bass flew for American Airlines for about 32 years, from 1976 until she retired in 2008. Her career, including her diversion to Gander on September 11, 2001, is the basis of her song Me and the Sky in Come From Away.
What show is Beverley Bass from?
Beverley Bass is a lead character in Come From Away, which opened in 2017.
Is Beverley Bass a lead or supporting role?
Beverley Bass is a lead role.
Who wrote the music for Come From Away?
Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the music, lyrics, and book together.
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