Jefferson Performing Arts Society

Jefferson Performing Arts Society

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Come From Away

September 11-20, 2026

Jefferson Performing Arts Center
6400 Airline Dr, Metairie, LA

  • Tickets

Come From Away is based on the true story of the time when the isolated community of Gander, Newfoundland, played host to the world. What started as an average day in a small town turned into an international sleepover, when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip on September 11, 2001. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travelers with music, an open bar and the recognition that we’re all part of a global family.

Creative Team

David Haydel - Director
Ainsley Matich - Music Director
Blake Coheley - Choreographer

CAST

Click headshot for bio

Michael Smith

A graduate of Tulane University (BFA in Musical Theatre), Michael has been part of the New Orleans performing arts community since 2006, with the United States Marine Corps Band, Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane, Rivertown Theatres for the Performing Arts, the World War II Museum, and Jefferson Performing Arts.  He first appeared on the JPA stage with The Addams Family (2021) as Malcom Beinecke and is extremely grateful to be back for the 2026-2027 season in the show he never wanted to see in the first place (“9/11 the Musical, seriously? Um, no thank you.”) …until he finally did see it, then couldn’t stop seeing it again and again – and is now absolutely thrilled to be a part of the amazing cast of Come From Away! Smith is a retired Marine Corps officer (32 years), including three combat deployments, the Director of the Marine Corps Band New Orleans, and the Head of Marine Corps Field Music program at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  Currently, he teaches Leadership & Character Development at the New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy as a Senior Marine Instructor.  Past local production highlights include: Captain O’Hurley in two productions of FLY - The Tuskegee Airman Story, A Christmas Story (Ralphie’s Old Man), Pipin (King Charlemagne), Annie! (Daddy Warbucks), Herbie in Gyspsy, and, most recently, as Steve Healy in Jagged Little Pill.

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Michael Smith

Claude & Others

Laurie Reinagel

Laurie Reinagel is thrilled to be making her JPA debut in Come From Away as Bonnie and others. A longtime performer in the Greater New Orleans theatre community, favorite credits include Mary Lazarus (Sister Act), Ma Ferd/Mayor/Nun (The Toxic Avenger), Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret), Reverend Mother (Nunsense and Nunsense 2), Marmee (Little Women), and Mother (A Christmas Story). Laurie holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Loyola University New Orleans and is grateful to spend her days sharing her love of music as a middle school choir director and her evenings creating theatre with some of the region's most talented artists.  Laurie would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to director David Haydel for the opportunity to be part of this extraordinary production. She is especially grateful for the love and support of her husband, John; her mother, Mary Beth; and her children, Elisabeth and Will, whose encouragement makes every performance possible.

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Laurie Reinagel

Bonnie & Others

Meredith Long

Meredith Long is a proud graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. She has graced the stage in off-Broadway productions, national tours, cruise ships, and various regional theaters across the country. Among her notable performances is her role in Ruthless, for which she received the Big Easy Award for Best Actress. Most recently, she portrayed Mama Rose in Gypsy at Rivertown theatre and Sara in Company at Tulane Summer Lyric.

Meredith has also taken on memorable roles such as “Cha Cha” in the national tour of Grease alongside Frankie Avalon and Chubby Checker, and “Ethel Toffelmier” in The Music Man with Tony Award winners Gary Beech and Terrence Mann. Additionally, she performed with the Disney Cruise Line.

Since relocating to New Orleans, Meredith has been actively involved in the local theater community, serving as the Actors' Equity liaison for many years to strengthen the actors' union in the area. Her film credits include Disney's Secrets of Sulfur Springs, Lunchables, and the recent movie, Nimby.

In her commitment to education, Meredith has taught in both private and public schools in the New Orleans area, creating several programs that help students discover their voice. She is currently the gifted and talented theater teacher at Edward Hynes Charter School, where she has fostered a welcoming environment for students to thrive on stage.

To learn more about Meredith, visit www.TheMeredithLong.com.

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Meredith Long

Beulah & Others

Savannah Chiasson

Bio coming soon.

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Savannah Chiasson

Oz & Others

Alyssa Bennefield

Alyssa Duke Bennefield (Janice and others) is excited to be back on stage at JPA! She was most recently seen on the JPA stage in Jagged Little Pill and Our City of Saints where she also served as the dance captain for both! She is currently the Head Coach of the Shockwave Dance Team at Tulane University. Prior to that she was an NFL Cheerleader with the New Orleans Saints from 2022-2025 and an NBA Dancer for the Atlanta Hawks from 2017-2020. She has been seen performing with many famous artists such as Ciara, Migos, 21 Savage, New Kids On The Block, Ying Yang Twins and more. Recent stage credits include: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Bucket), Rock of Ages (Sherrie), The Prom (Angie), Kinky Boots (Nicola) and more! In her free time she loves to spend time with her husband Brandon, and their two sons - Parker and Denver - thank you for supporting me in all I do! IG: @alyssabenne

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Alyssa Bennefield

Janice & Others

Meredith Owens

Bio coming soon.

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Meredith Owens

Beverly/Annette & Others

Trina Beck

Trina is a graduate of Yale (BA) and Tulane (MBA) who has played leading and featured roles with theatres across the region for over twenty years. She is delighted to return to Jefferson Performing Arts, where she opened the Westwego Performing Arts Center as Roxie Hart in Chicago (2004) and helped to revive local theater post-Katrina as Sally Bowles in Cabaret (2006). More recently, you may have seen her on Tulane’s stages as a French café proprietress (La Cage Aux Folles, TSLT) or a fascist squirrel (The Squirrels, TUTD). Trina is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this talented team and tell this incredibly relevant story about the power of choosing love over fear. Love and gratitude to JSD, PJN, Mom & Dad.

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Trina Beck

Diane & Others

John Jabaley

John Jabaley grew up in Jackson, earned a B.A. at Millsaps and MFA at CalArts. He is delighted to be making his first appearance at JPAS. Around New Orleans he’s been seen on stage at Le Petit, NOSF, TWTC, Fat Squirrel and the WWII Museum. In L.A. he appeared at the Theatricum Botanicum, Shakespeare Festival/L.A., many others, and was a member of Theatre Banshee. Film/TV credits include “Into the Wild,” “Firefly”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Preacher,” “NCIS:New Orleans,” “Blackbird,” “Treme” and “Queen Sugar.” Much love to his wife, Erika, who is graciously learning after 27 years that she married a musical theatre actor.

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John Jabaley

Nick/Doug & Others

Michael Breath Jr.

Michael Breath Jr. (Kevin J/Ali): Michael has been an actor for 19 years and received his degree in Drama from the University of Oklahoma. Michael is ecstatic to return for his second show with JPAS, last seen in Waitress (Ensemble). Most recently Michael performed in Rivertown Theater’s Cinderella (Jean-Michel) and Evangeline Theatre Co. “Rock of Ages” (Drew). Michael has been seen in Columbia Theatre’s production of “Grease” (Danny Zuko). 30 by Ninety’s “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (Barfee). “The Producers” (Leo Bloom) “Noises Off” (Frederick). Michael wishes to thank his family and friends for their continued support for his endeavors.

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Michael Breath Jr.

Kevin J/Ali & Others

Scott Sauber

Scott Sauber (Kevin T.) received the 2025 Crescent City Theatre Award for Featured Performer for Ogie in Waitress here at JPA. His summer was spent at Tulane Summer Lyric playing Albin/Zaza in LaCage Aux Folles. At Rivertown, he looks forward to directing Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the summer of 2027.  Favorite roles around town include Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys at LePetite,  Peter Quince in Something Rotten at Rivertown, and Igor in Young Frankenstein here at the JPAC.  He has directed 10 years of JPA Summer Intensives including Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, and Singin’ in the Rain.  His favorite roles here include Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, the Scarecrow in THE WIZARD OF OZ, Lord Farquaad in SHREK the MUSICAL, and as director of the 2026 local premier of FROZEN the MUSICAL.

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Scott Sauber

Kevin T/Garth & Others

Keisha McKey

Kesha McKey is an African American female performing artist, choreographer and educator born and raised in New Orleans. After graduating from NOCCA she received her BS in Biology pre-med from Xavier University of LA and an MFA in Dance Performance from UW-Milwaukee. She is the founding Artistic Director of KM Dance Project, an essential artistic platform for emerging Black choreographers in NOLA. Kesha’s choreographic work, Raw Fruit, has received 2021-22 NPN Creation and Development Fund Awards and a 2019 NEFA National Dance Project Production Grant – being the first dance company in Louisiana to receive this award. Her other awards include a 2025 NPN Take Notice Award, 2022-23 Dance/USA DFA Fellowship, 2022 Urban Bush Women (UBW) CCI 2.0/CCI 2019 Alum, and a 2020 CAC N.O. SweetArts Award. Her performance credits include: KM Dance Project’s Raw Fruit tour, Urban Bush Women’s Hair and Other Stories tour, Junebug Productions Gomela:to return tour, Junebug Productions Homecoming Project and the Lula Elzy N.O. Dance Theatre. Her previous theater credits include Echoes of The Heart (NOCCA Summer Stages), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The NOLA Project), Hairspray (Le Petit Theatre), Purlie (Le Petit Theatre), To Kill a Mockingbird (NOCCA Summer Stages), Violet (NOCCA Summer Stages) and 13 Lessons (Ashé Cultural Arts Center). Kesha has served as a dance educator for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Arts at NOCCA and as a Dancing Grounds Teaching Artist and Dance for Social Change choreographer.

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Keisha McKey

Hannah & Others

Justin Rogers

Justin Florent Rogers is excited to make his debut at JPA in this special production. Some of Justin’s most recent credits include Billy Cane in Bright Star (Ascension Community Theatre) and Mr. Wormwood in Matilda (St John Theatre). He has recently also served as the Music Director for Shrek (St. John Theatre), Director for The Odd Couple (River Region Drama Guild) and the Assistant Director for Peter and the Starcatcher (Sullivan Youth Theatre Company). Justin Currently is on route to get his degree in education to eventually teach theatre with the hopes of impacting students the way his teachers did for him. He wants to thank JPA for this incredible opportunity and his friends and family for always supporting him day in and day out.
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Justin Rogers

Bob & Others