AMELIA AND ME

A New Musical

Book and Lyrics by Stacey Luftig
Music by Phillip Palmer


AMELIA AND ME is the untold story of the surprising events preceding Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, and of the friendship between the world’s most beloved pilot and its most accomplished one.

It’s 1935, and pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart makes possibilities feel endless. Jackie Cochran, a brash, beautiful, new flyer looking to soar beyond her tragic past, seeks out Amelia’s guidance and becomes her friend. But when Jackie learns that Amelia’s celebrity and sense of obligation have compelled her to take dangerous shortcuts and big risks, including a treacherous round-the-globe flight, Jackie races against time to intervene—becoming entangled in the tragedy she was trying to prevent.

RUNNING TIME

approximately 2 hours plus intermission

CAST SIZE
11+ (5W, 6M)

BAND SIZE

To be determined


HISTORY

  • Workshopped at Florida State University, April 2025

  • Developed at the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, and New York SongSpace.

  • Based on Jinxed, an original play by Stacey (O’Neill NPC Finalist, Great Plains Theatre Conference,  Dayton Playhouse FutureFest Winner and Audience Favorite)

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Audio


PHOTOS


NEWS

News
Broadway actor Charissa Bertels sings at the Amelia Earhart Festival
Broadway actor Charissa Bertels sings at the Amelia Earhart Festival

In Atchison, Kansas this weekend, and what a thrill to hear Charissa Bertells—who splits her time between Manhattan, New York and Manhattan, Kansas—do an amazing job presenting two songs from AMELIA AND ME

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AMELIA AND ME songs to be featured at Festival
AMELIA AND ME songs to be featured at Festival

Honored to take part in the Amelia Earhart Festival at Amelia’s birthplace in Atchison, Kansas, in mid July! And excited to have knock-out performer Charissa Bertels sing two songs from our show.

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Workshop of AMELIA AND ME: joys and surprises
Workshop of AMELIA AND ME: joys and surprises

Our workshop was everything we had hoped for—and more. The “everything” included terrific performances from our cast, especially Charlotte Ennen as Amelia Earhart and Teegan SinClair as Jackie Cochran, and smart, elegant direction by Chari Arespacochaga. We learned so much! The “more” was…

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AMELIA AND ME workshop production at FSU
AMELIA AND ME workshop production at FSU

Our first workshop for AMELIA AND ME happens spring of 2025 in Tallahassee, with performances on April 4th and 5th. Can’t wait to meet the students and hear this full show for the first time!

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AMELIA AND ME at Symphony Space Concert
AMELIA AND ME at Symphony Space Concert

Delighted to be part of REIGNITE, a one-night-only concert event produced by Prospect Theatre and performed at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway @95th Street). The concert will feature songs from 15 new shows that have been in development over the past 18 months—including AMELIA AND ME.

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Recording begins for AMELIA AND ME!
Recording begins for AMELIA AND ME!

Big thanks to the gifted, brilliant performers who sang on our AMELIA AND ME recordings! Pictured here is Christiana Cole breaking our hearts with her performance as Amelia Earhart. Also making our songs come alive were the wonderful Charissa Bartels, Lauren Elder, Nick Kohn, and Jon-Michael Reese--and Carly Kincannon nailing it as scrappy young pilot Jackie Cochran.

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Stacey Luftig wins BMI Jerry Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement as a Librettist
Stacey Luftig wins BMI Jerry Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement as a Librettist

I was thrilled to receive this award! I've been presenting scenes from the first draft of Saving Amelia for the last year and a half--even the title is an early draft--so receiving this award is a big vote of confidence. Thank you, BMI!

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Method writing: a flight in a bi-plane
Method writing: a flight in a bi-plane

Well, THAT was fun. Just spent a fabulous week at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat with Phillip Palmer, working on Saving Amelia (working title). Wrote two songs, dug deeper into the story.

Another highlight: taking a ride in this bi-plane, which has been around since 1929…

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Heading to a Rhinebeck Retreat with a new musical
Heading to a Rhinebeck Retreat with a new musical

So...what do you do when you have a play that gets you super jazzed...that has had several staged readings and a few honors, but no full production...a play that you've always felt somehow ought to go deeper, but feels a little bit stuck?

You turn it into a musical.

Yes, the play formerly known as JINXED, about Jackie Cochran and Amelia Earhart, is being reimagined as a musical, with the working title SAVING AMELIA. Music by Phillip Palmer and book and lyrics written by me….

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Reading of JINXED at Abingdon Theatre, New York City
Reading of JINXED at Abingdon Theatre, New York City

Finally–a reading in New York! Don Brenner will be directing a reading of Jinxed at the Abingdon Theatre on Friday, February 22, at 7 p.m. Please come!

For details: www.abingdontheatre.org.

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Ryan Foy