The Festival Players of Prince Edward County will be hosting its first event of the year on Saturday, February 11th, 2012. Well-known Canadian star of stage and screen Sonja Smits will emcee, guiding guests through an elegant Valentine-themed evening filled with romance, good food, County wine and live entertainment by some of our local theatre’s best-known performers.

Along with a splendid Waring House meal, the evening will also include fabulous live musical theatre performances by John Millard, well-known musical director and composer of Weedy Peetstraw and of Colours in the Storm fame; Michael O’Hara, who appeared many times on the Festival Players stage in such plays as Picton Papers, Ship of Fire, Colours in the Storm and Hank Williams; and Eliza Jane Scott who was loved in Colours in the Storm, Ship of Fire, and, most recently, in Amelia: the Girl Who Wants to Fly.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for theatre lovers to ‘share the love’ a bit, celebrate Valentine’s Day while enjoying their favourite artists and helping to support their local theatre,” said Artistic Director Sarah Phillips.  “We’re thrilled that Sonja is at the helm of this event. She’s an icon in Canadian film, television and theatre and has always encouraged Festival Players, supporting and advising the company since day one.” The evening will also include a live and a silent auction, featuring theatre-related items including a weekend in Stratford, and various theatre-restaurant packages from around Ontario.  The proceeds from the evening will go to support the activities of Festival Players.

“Even when you have a very successful season, which we have had, ticket sales account for barely 30% of the cost of running a professional theatre”, said Phillips.  “We count on fundraising events like this to help us achieve the high calibre theatre our audience has come to expect”.

The evening’s festivities begin at 6pm. Tickets are $100 per person (guests receive a charitable tax receipt for $50 with each ticket purchased). There are a limited number of tickets available. Get yours now and guarantee a seat at what’s sure to be a lovely evening of entertainment! Buy online at CountyTix or by phone at 613.471.1991.

Eliza-Jane Scott as Amelia Earhart

This weekend is your final chance to catch the Festival Players production of Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa.

Be transported to the Golden Age of Flight – a world of planes, dreams and celebrity. Amelia is the fascinating story of the meteoric rise and mysterious disappearance of Amelia Earhart. The legendary Earhart was a pioneer of the skies, a courageous woman who defied all conventions of her time. This new hit musical from the writer that brought us Billy Bishop Goes to War, traces Amelia’s transformation from “girl next door” to iconic first woman of flight. Amelia is inspiring, entertaining and chock full of wonderful music.

“We’re so pleased to bring you a musical this season. This production from Picton’s Festival Players was a runaway hit last summer. Amelia features a knockout performance by Ottawa actress Eliza-Jane Scott. This role was tailor made for her outstanding musical and dramatic talents.” -Lise Ann Johnson | Artistic Director

Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly plays from September 3rd – October 2nd, 2011 at the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Check out the GCTC the website for schedule details, www.gctc.ca.
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Theatre 20: Musicals That Fly, Amelia in Concert!

Theatre 20 presents Amelia, the story of the meteoric rise and mysterious disappearance of the legendary pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart who rose to unimaginable heights, both literally and figuratively. Starring Theatre 20 Founding Artist Eliza-Jane Scott, this story-driven Canadian musical by John Gray (Billy Bishop Goes to War, Rock and Roll) is the
heart of Theatre 20s, Musicals That Fly. Directed by Sarah Phillips. Playing Monday, October 3rd at 8pm at the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto.

For tickets and more information please visit the Mirvish website.

*Photo by Michael Grills Photography

Eliza-Jane Scott as Amelia Earhart

For the month of September, Ottawa is going to see a lot of Amelia Earhart. The Festival Players production of Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly begins September 13^th and runs through to October 2^nd, 2011. Eliza-Jane Scott stars as iconic aviatrix Amelia Earhart in this new musical, written by John Gray (who wrote the well-known Billy Bishop Goes to War). The show opens on Thursday, September 15^that the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa.

In 1930’s Americathe celebrity machine of the day created an idol whose image resonates even now, 70+ years after her death. Amelia Earhart…Why did she want to fly? Where did she come from and how did she become who she was? Gray’s examination of this infamous figure is part biography, part romance, part comedy and part musical. We’re taken along for the ride. And what a thrilling ride it is.

“What an honour, truly. The talent onstage and behind the scenes is immense. The play is a love letter to history, steeped in nostalgia of the period. ” says Artistic Director Sarah Phillips who heads this production. “Of course we all know the name, Amelia Earhart – but what do we know of her really? It’s been fascinating bringing John Gray’s version of this celebrity flier to life.”

The group brought together to work on this show is brilliant: Eliza-Jane Scott (Festival Players, Stratford Festival, Stage West) plays the title role of Amelia Earhart, Karin Randoja (Buddies in Bad Times, Caravan Farm Theatre, National Arts Centre) plays her earth-bound sister Midge and Steven Gallagher (Grand Theatre, Canadian Stage Company, Driftwood Theatre Company) her publicist turned husband. The trio is joined onstage by music director and pianist Michael Barber (Theatre Aqaurius, Mirvish, Stratford Festival) and Sarah Phillips, Artistic Director of Festival Players, directs.

Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly plays from September 3^rd– October 2^nd, 2011 at the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Check out the GCTC the website for schedule details, www.gctc.ca.

There are only 2 weeks left until the Opening of Amelia and the 2011 Season. You can get your tickets at www.countytix.ca, by calling 613-471-1991/1-866-584-1991, or stop in at the Box Office at 289 Main Street, Picton (inside Books & Co.) 

We hope to see you this summer!

The season will begin with a remount of Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly by Governor General’s Award winning playwright John Gray. Gray’s entertaining and engaging musical about iconic aviatrix Amelia Earhart will have only ten performances prior to its national tour. Festival Players premiered the original work last year to sold out houses. Ottawa actor Eliza-Jane Scott will revive the role she originated last year. Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly will run June 28^th to July 8^th at Fields on West Lake, in Bloomfield.

Leanna Brodie’s powerful and moving story of a young girl’s journey to find herself in The Book of Esther will be the second show of the 2011 season. Set in the rural community of Baker’s Creek, the Dalzell family struggle to keep their farm, family and faith intact when their 15 year-old daughter Esther runs away from home. Festival Players audiences are familiar with Brodie’s razor-sharp wit – in the 2009 season, her Schoolhouse was a runaway audience favourite. The Book of Esther will run July 12^th to 30^th at Mt.Tabor Playhouse, in Milford.

The third show of the 2011 season will be The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw by Peter Anderson and Dora Award winner John Millard. This comical and clever take on the Faust legend tells the story of a young country boy who sells his soul to the devil to play the banjo. Originally produced by Caravan Farm Theatre in British Columbia, to strong audience and critical acclaim, the performance will feature a live bluegrass band. The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw will run August 3^rd to 28^th at Rosehall Run Vineyards, in Wellington.

“Our 5^th anniversary season is a celebration of stellar talent. We are thrilled to be creating and presenting original Canadian work in a unique and vibrant community, anchored in both rural life and artistic excellence. It’s here that our theatre artists continue to inspire, entertain, and engage a rapidly growing audience,” says Artistic Director Sarah Phillips. “We’ve got a few other things up our sleeve for this year too. There’s more great news to come!”

The season will run June 28-August 27, 2011. Single tickets will go on sale in early Spring. Flex Pass subscriptions are available and are priced at $81.00+HST until June 24^th. Contact boxoffice@festivalplayers.ca or call 613-471-1991/1-866-584-1991 to order a Flex Pass, and visit www.festivalplayers.ca for ongoing updates about the season and schedule.

L-R: Karin Randoja as Midge, Christopher Sawchyn* as G.P. & Eliza-Jane Scott* as Amelia

There are only 6 performances left to catch Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly!

If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to see the show, now is the time! You don’t want to miss this fantastic musical by John Gray (Billy Bishop Goes to War).

Tickets are still available, to get yours call 613-471-1991/1-866-584-1991 or visit www.countytix.ca to buy online.

Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly is playing until Saturday, August 28th, 2010 only! Outdoors, under a grand tent, at the Waring House in Picton (Hwy 33 & CR-1)!

Synopsis: Amelia Earhart rose to unimaginable heights, literally and figuratively. This new musical from the writer that brought us Billy Bishop Goes to War, re-imagines her meteoric rise from the “girl next door” to the iconic first woman in flight. Inspiring, insightful and entertaining.

*Photo Credit: Michael Grills Photography

L-R: Karin Randoja as Midge, Christopher Sawchyn* as G.P. & Eliza-Jane Scott* as Amelia

For the month of August, Prince Edward County is going to see a lot of Amelia Earhart. The Festival Players production of Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly begins August 4th and runs through to August 28th.

John Gray, celebrated playwright and composer, is coming to town as part of the Festival Players Playwrights Reading Series. Gray’s new version of his musical Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly, plays in the 2010 season. Gray will be at Books & Company in Picton, on Thursday, April 29^th at 7pm. Admission is free and there will be a wine and cheese reception. 

Halifax-born, Vancouver-based playwright and composer John Gray is best known for his award-winning and internationally acclaimed musical about a World War I flying ace, Billy Bishop Goes to War. Gray recently reprised his original role in that show, with co-creator Eric Peterson, over two sold-out runs at Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto. 

Come meet the playwright, and be treated to a preview of the show itself. Eliza-Jane Scott, who starred in both Ship of Fire and Colours in the Storm in 2009 and who will take on the title role in Amelia this year, will perform a brief excerpt from the play. 

Gray has garnered many prestigious awards for his work, including Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Rock and Roll, and the Los Angeles Critics Drama Award, the Governor General’s Award, and the Chalmers Canadian Play Award for Billy Bishop Goes to War. He has won several National Magazine Awards and penned a popular series of Victorian mystery novels. Gray was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2000. A legend in Canadian theatre, he will regale you with tales sure to amuse and inform. 

Amelia is the story of the meteoric rise and mysterious disappearance of the legendary Amelia Earhart, pioneering aviatrix. Earhart rose to unimaginable heights, literally and figuratively. This new musical re-imagines her transformation from the “girl next door” to the iconic first woman in flight. Inspiring, insightful and entertaining. It’s part biography, part love story, part thrill of the flight – and chock full of wonderful music. 

For more information: 613.399.5677 or www.festivalplayers.ca 

Playwrights Reading Series Thursday, April 29, 7pm
With Amelia playwright John Gray
Books & Company, 289 Main Street, Picton 

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
ELIZA-JANE SCOTT RETURNS TO PLAY AMELIA EARHART

Prince Edward County, ON, (January 21, 2010): Festival Players has just announced that actress Eliza-Jane Scott will return to the County in 2010 to play iconic aviatrix Amelia Earhart.

Ms.Scott, who impressed audiences in 2009 with her work in Ship of Fire and Colours in the Storm, returns to take on the starring role in a new musical by playwright John Gray. Audiences worldwide have long applauded Gray’s award-winning musical Billy Bishop Goes to War and Amelia brings his songwriting and script writing talent to bear on the story of this ‘girl-next-door’ turned celebrity. The 2010 Festival Players production marks the world premiere of this newest version of the play. It’s part biography, part love story, part thrill of the flight and chock full of wonderful music.

Tickets for the 2010 season go on sale in the spring but those who want a great deal can get on board early and purchase a Flex Pass. The Flex Pass is redeemable for 3 regular priced tickets to the season and is currently offered at $71 (a 20% discount). Simply call 613.399.5677 or email boxoffice@festivalplayers.ca to order your 2010 Flex Pass. Pass prices go up on February 14.

Festival Players, now into their fourth season, will be presenting three outstanding Canadian plays between June 29 and August 28, 2010. Check out their website for details, www.festivalplayers.ca.

*hi-res photos attached –  Eliza-Jane Scott and Stephen Sparks in the 2009 production of Colours in the Storm, and promo shot of Eliza-Jane Scott

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Contact: Yorrick da Silva, Festival Players of Prince Edward County
613.399.5677 or yorrick@festivalplayers.ca