Character guide
Bonnie
from Come From Away
Bonnie is a Gander animal health worker who cares for the animals left in the cargo holds of diverted planes in Come From Away, the 2017 musical by Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
- Show
- Come From Away
- Broadway premiere
- 2017
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Sankoff & Hein
Who is Bonnie?
Bonnie is a local Gander resident who works to care for the pets and animals stranded in the cargo holds of the diverted planes, an often overlooked corner of the crisis that the show highlights with particular warmth. Her determination to look after creatures that could not speak for themselves becomes a quiet symbol of the town's wider instinct to help anyone, or anything, in need.
Her scenes offer a lighter, tender counterpoint to some of the show's heavier material, underscoring how far Gander's hospitality extended during that week.
Bonnie's role in Come From Away
Bonnie is a supporting role within the ensemble, built around her efforts to reach and care for the animals aboard the grounded planes, requiring the same quick character shifts and strong ensemble singing demanded of the show's other tracks.
Her storyline is one of several smaller threads the show weaves together, and it is frequently singled out by audiences as a memorable, humanizing detail within Come From Away's larger portrait of Gander's response to September 11.
Bonnie: frequently asked questions
Who is Bonnie based on in Come From Away?
Bonnie is based on Bonnie Harris, who managed the SPCA animal shelter in Gander, Newfoundland, in 2001. When it emerged that the diverted planes had animals in their cargo holds, Harris and two colleagues went into the holds to find and care for them.
What animals did the real Bonnie care for in Gander?
The real Bonnie Harris and her colleagues cared for 19 animals found in the cargo holds of the diverted planes, including dogs, cats, and a pair of endangered bonobo apes. They fed the animals and walked the dogs until the planes were cleared to leave.
Who originated the role of Bonnie on Broadway?
Petrina Bromley originated the role of Bonnie when Come From Away opened on Broadway in 2017, part of the twelve-person ensemble in which every performer plays several passenger and Gander roles.
What show is Bonnie from?
Bonnie is a supporting character in Come From Away, which opened in 2017.
Is Bonnie a lead or supporting role?
Bonnie is a supporting 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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