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.

Tomorrow night we are hosting a ”Ladies Night with Amelia”. With each purchase of a ticket your name will be entered into a draw to win a basket of goodies (including wine from Rosehall Run Vineyards, 2 tickets to The Book of Esther, 2 tickets to The Ballad of Weedy Peetstraw, 1 Picturefest Pass, and a selection of body productions from Sensitive Scents!), Rosehall Run Vineyards will also be joining us to do wine tastings.

Next week The Book of Esther by Leanna Brodie opens with a Preview Performance on Tuesday, July 12 at 8pm at Mt. Tabor Playhouse in Milford! Tickets are only $20.00+HST. We hope to see you there!

There are only 6 days 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!

You can be a winner too! Your next chance to win is on Friday, July 1st. Click here for details.

You can be a winner too! Your next chance to win is on Friday, June 17th. Click here for details.

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: Christopher Sawchyn as G.P. & Eliza-Jane Scott as Amelia Earhart*

This is just a reminder to all, if you haven’t yet seen Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly by John Gray, get down to the Waring House and do so! 

There are only 2 weeks left (12 performances) before this show closes and you don’t want to miss it!

You can get your tickets today from  the Box Office, 613-471-1991/1-866-584-1991, or visit us at 289 Main Street, Picton (inside Books and Company).

NEED those tickets right this second? Get them right now, safely and securely, online at www.countytix.ca !

Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly is playing until August 28, 2010 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