THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND SCHOOL OF THEATRE PRESENT
Amelia and Me
MUSIC BY PHILLIP PALMER | BOOK AND LYRICS BY STACEY LUFTIG
DIRECTED BY CHARI ARESPACOCHAGA
MUSICAL DIRECTION BY ROBERT ELHAI
APRIL 4-5, 2025 | AUGUSTA CONRADI STUDIO THEATRE
About Amelia and Me
Amelia and Me
Music by Phillip Palmer
Book and lyrics by Stacey Luftig
Directed by Chari Arespacochaga
Musical Direction by Robert Elhai
Jackie Cochran
Amelia Earhart
Floyd Odlum
George Putnam
Paul Mantz
Ensemble
Cast
Teegan SinClair
Charlotte Ennen
Elliot Kehoe
Nick Nasta
John Ray
Veronica Else
Landen Kol
Caleb Litten
Amber Nicole
Cat Ostrowski
Kyra Paternoster
Maddie Rainer
Shaiden Tamim
Angelo Seven Zizza
The mission of PREVIEW@FSU is to offer opportunities for readings and workshops of new musicals at various stages of development through a two-week residency on campus, culminating with two public performances. PREVIEW@FSU’s program is dedicated to developing, nurturing and producing new musicals through a collaboration between the FSU College of Music and the School of Theatre which will provide enriching opportunities for our students to be part of the development process.
The seeds of our musical, Amelia and Me, are rooted in Florida’s soil. They sprouted from a book of poems called Stars at Noon, written by Florida native, Enid Shomer. She wrote about the ambitious, complicated, brash, beautiful, and largely forgotten pilot Jackie Cochran, born in 1906 in Defuniak Springs, Florida, just 120 miles west of Tallahassee.
Through Enid’s poems, I became fascinated with Jackie, whose achievements in aviation—from her early days as a test pilot, through her flying competitions, her pioneering role in the military, and her leadership in space travel—would fill a mini-series. Why, I wondered, was she so little known? What part of her story would I choose to tell? And why is it that perhaps the only female pilot the average person can name— who still makes the news, nearly 90 years after her disappearance—is Amelia Earhart?
When I learned that Jackie and Amelia, though opposites in personality and background, were close friends for the two years before Amelia disappeared, I knew I had found my story. After more research came a limited attempt at turning Enid’s beautiful poems into a theater piece. Next came a play that worked better, garnering several readings and winning me some awards. But it wasn’t until I paired up with composer Phillip Palmer to turn this story into a musical that the seeds planted long ago truly began to bloom.
These two performances at Florida State University mark the first time anyone will hear the full script and score of Amelia and Me. Phillip and I, along with Robert Elhai (our brilliant friend, colleague, and music director) are so grateful to everyone involved for their dedication to this process. Tonight, you’ll see a show based on true events and propelled by questions that haunt us. No, we haven’t solved the mystery of where Amelia might be found; we are more interested in the choices, made by a handful of powerful, enmeshed people, especially Jackie, that led to her disappearance. But most of all, we want to show how a passionate friendship has the power to change us in ways that are profound, tragic, and beautiful. Thank you for joining us as we continue to fashion this story and bring these two unstoppable women to life.
– Stacey Luftig
Staff Musical Numbers
Stage Managers
Alanna Boyd Calling Stage Manager
Danielle Prince Deck Stage Manager
Anna Collins Deck Stage Manager
Run Crew
Daelynn Trotman
Miguel Quintero
Program Director Alisa Hauser
Associate Program Directors
Chari Arespacochaga
Evan T. Jones
Student Selection Committee members
Charlotte Ennen
Noah Sprague Onyekachi Anyagaligbo
Rehearsal Accompanist
Adam Ravain Assistants
Noah Sprague
Assistant Director
Caitlyn Primous
Assistant Music Director
Jake Jordan
Assistant Composer
Mikaela Georgi
Assistant Book Writer
Act I
1. Gotta Keep Movin’ Jackie, Ensemble
2. They Touch the Sky Ensemble
3. You Do It Anyway Amelia
4. Gotta Keep Movin’ (reprise) Jackie, Ensemble
5. To Keep You Flying George, Floyd, Paul
6. Teach Me Jackie
7. I Do, I Do, Don’t You? Amelia, Jackie
8. Me and Amelia Jackie
9. We Need an Amelia Earhart Amelia, Female Ensemble
10. Can You Hear Me Floyd
11. The Flying Lesson Paul, Amelia, Jackie, Ensemble
12. The Takeoff (Act I Finale) Ensemble
— BRIEF INTERMISSION —
Act II
1. In the Palm of Your Hand Jackie, Amelia, Clare, Violet
2. Something Better George, Amelia
3. Training Montage Jackie, Paul, Amelia, Ensemble
4. Go, Don’t Go George, Amelia, Female Ensemble
5. Another Chance Jackie, Amelia, Floyd, George
6. You Think You Know Amelia, Jackie
7. Please Acknowledge Receipt Radiomen, Jackie, Amelia
8. Stop Jackie
9. Gotta Keep Movin’ (Finale) Jackie, Ensemble
There will be a short talkback after each performance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC Visit us at music.fsu.edu or @musicfsu on all your favorite socials
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF THEATRE Visit us at theatre.fsu.edu or @theatrefsu on all your favorite socials
Creative Team
STACEY LUFTIG (lyricist/librettist) and PHILLIP PALMER (composer) won the Fred Ebb Award, the Kleban Prize (lyrics), and the BMI Foundation Jerry Bock Award for My Heart Is the Drum, their first collaboration (book by Jennie Redling). Drum was an official section of the NAMT Festival, then received its world premiere at the Village Theater in Seattle, where it was directed by Schele Williams (Broadway: The Notebook, The Wiz). It was also a finalist for the Larson Award and the Richard Rodgers Award. Amelia and Me is their second show together. It has been developed at Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, New York SongSpace, and the BMI Workshop, and was awarded the BMI Foundation Jerry Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement for the libretto. Amelia and Me is based on Stacey’s play, Jinxed, which was an O’Neill NPC Finalist, awarded Winner and Audience Favorite at Dayton Playhouse FutureFest, and featured at the Great Plains Theatre Conference.
Stacey is an Outer Critics Circle Award Nominee and the winner of the Salzman-Gramercy Opera Advancement Prize as well as the National Children’s Theatre Festival Award.
Phillip’s dance compositions Three Miniatures and Tango have been choreographed and performed at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the ImageMovementSound Festival in Rochester, NY. In addition to his work as a composer, Phillip is a pianist and arranger. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music.
Stacey and Phillip, both based in New York City, are members of the BMI Workshop and the Dramatists Guild, and Stacey is a member of Maestra and ASCAP.
ROBERT ELHAI (Music Director), Tony and Drama Desk nominee for his orchestrations for Broadway’s The Lion King, is based in Minneapolis where his theater music has been performed by Theatre Latté Da, Jungle Theater, The History Theatre, and Nautilus Music-Theater, among others. His arrangements and orchestrations have been heard live in many theaters, opera houses, concert halls, and even arenas around the world as well as on Emmy and Grammy awardwinning recordings. He has orchestrated over 200 film, TV, and video game scores including those by Elliot Goldenthal (the Oscar-winning score to Frida), Michael Kamen (Band Of Brothers) and Brian Tyler (Fast and Furious franchise). robertelhai.com
CHARI ARESPACOCHAGA (Director) Chari is a director for theatre, film, special events and concerts; and, Associate Professor at Florida State University where she is the Director of the MFA Directing Program. One of Roundabout Theatre Company’s Directors Group, her credits include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Kinky Boots, Rent, Fumiko Enchi’s Restless Night in Late Spring and A Hell of Her Own, Long Distance Affair, In The Heights, The Motherf**ker With The Hat, Birthmark, Love’s Labour’s Lost the Musical, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, among others. Chari has led the premiere public reading of Ed Clark’s Shame Bomb (29 Hour Ventures and New York Rep) and is the Director of Creative Development for Em and Missing. She worked with Susan Stroman on Dot (Vineyard Theatre), and with Jeff Whiting in NYMF’s Single Wide. She is next directing Into the Woods for Theatre Group Asia, Sweeney Todd for the School of Theatre and Primary Trust for Asolo Rep. chariarespacochaga.com Special thanks to College of Music Dean Todd Queen and Associate Dean Greg Jones Brad Brock, Casey Sammarco, Zach Cramer, Todd Teagarden The School of
Cast
Veronica Else (Ensemble) is a sophomore BFA Acting major from Atlanta, GA. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support!
Charlotte Ennen (Amelia Earhart) is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from Norfolk, VA. She would like to thank her family, Alisa Hauser, and the Amelia and Me team.
Elliott Kehoe (Floyd Odlum) is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major at FSU from San Antonio, TX. He is thrilled to be a part of this show’s journey!
Landen Kol (Ensemble) is a freshman BFA Music Theatre student from St. Augustine, FL. He thanks Chari and his family for these wonderful opportunities.
Caleb Litten (Ensemble) is a sophomore BFA Acting major. This is his first musical with FSU. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support.
Nick Nasta (George Putnam) is a junior BM Music Theatre major from Jacksonville, FL. He would like to thank his family and friends back in Jacksonville for their overwhelming support, along with his family here at Florida State! Instagram: @ nicknastaaa
Amber Nicole (Ensemble) is an Atlanta native dedicated to making the world a better place through storytelling. She thanks God and her family. She hopes you enjoy.
Cat Ostrowski (Ensemble) is a BA Theatre senior and is honored to be a part of such a fabulous project to close out her time at FSU!
Kyra Paternoster (Ensemble) is a junior BM in Music Theatre at FSU. She is so excited to be making her New Works debut in Amelia and Me!
Maddie Rainer (Ensemble) is a senior BA Theatre major from Long Island, NY. She is thrilled to be a part of Amelia and Me. IG: @maddiejrainer, maddierainer.com
John Ray (Paul Mantz) is currently a sophomore BFA Music Theatre student here at Florida State. He is grateful not only to God but to his parents for supporting him in his journey thus far.
Teegan SinClair (Jackie Cochran) is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from New Bern, NC. She is very grateful to be spending her last production at FSU with such a special show and incredible people. She wants to thank the cast and creative team of Amelia and Me!
Shaiden Tamim (Ensemble) (freshman, BA Theatre) is thrilled to make his FSU debut! He thanks the cast, crew, and his mentors for their support.
Angelo Seven Zizza (Ensemble) wants to thank Chari Arespacochaga for the opportunity to work on Amelia and Me and his family for their never-ending support.
Crew
Alanna Boyd (Calling Stage Manager) is a senior BA Theatre Major from Merritt Island, FL. Previous credits include Everybody (DSM) and Pathetic (CSM). She would like to thank Chari, Casey, Michele and her family for their support. Last show, best show!
Anna Collins (Deck Stage Manager) is a sophomore BA Theatre Major studying Stage Management and Design & Production from Fort Myers, FL. Past credits include The Wolves (DSM) and A Play About a Man Who’s Trapped Inside a Box (PSM). She thanks her friends, family, and mentors.
Mikaela Georgi’s (Assistant Book Writer) recent credits include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (director) and Radium Girls (Kathryn). She is overjoyed to be the team’s assistant book writer.
Jake Jordan (Assistant Composer) is a doctoral student at Florida State University. His works vary from stage music (Sella the Musical) to works for band (The Last of Sailing Ships).
Miguel Quintero (Run Crew) is a junior Theatre major from Florida. He thanks his family and friends for the support and motivation!
Caitlyn Primous (Assistant Music Director) is a senior BM Music Theatre major from Marietta, Georgia. She is grateful to work on her last production at FSU as an assistant music director!
Danielle Prince (Deck Stage Manager) is a senior Theatre major from San Diego, California. Her credits include The Wolves (DSM) & The Secrets We Keep (PSM). She thanks her friends and family for their love and support. Go Noles!
Noah Sprague (Assistant Director) is so excited to be working alongside Chari and the creative team to bring this beautiful story to life. He’d like to thank all for their support!
Daelynn Trotman (Run Crew) is a sophomore BA Theatre major on the stage management track and a BA Psychology major.
Music Theatre at FSU
Thank you for joining us tonight for this special performance of Amelia and Me, a new music theatre work in progress by Stacey Luftig and Phillip Palmer. If you enjoyed this experience, please follow the College of Music and School of Theatre on social media to stay informed about additional upcoming Music Theatre and PREVIEW@FSU performances:
/theatreFSU and /musicFSU
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