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.