Amelia, the Cult-Hit Civil War Romance, Will Return to DC, This Time at National Portrait Gallery | Playbill

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News Amelia, the Cult-Hit Civil War Romance, Will Return to DC, This Time at National Portrait Gallery Amelia, actor-playwright Alex Webb's two-person Civil War drama about a wife disguising herself as a Union soldier to find her missing husband Down South — seen in a winter world-premiere staging by Washington Stage Guild in DC, and in a spring run on historic Governors Island in New York City — has been invited to appear at the National Portrait Gallery in the nation's capital.

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Shirleyann Kaladjian as Amelia on historic Governors Island.

Again featuring Shirleyann Kaladjian as Amelia and Webb in many roles, the production will play 7 PM July 2. WSG artistic director Bill Largess again directs; Jewell Robinson produces this engagement. The original design team's work is also represented.

The special performance is part of the National Portrait Gallery's Cultures in Motion, the Gallery's performing arts series. The Gallery continues its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with its "collaborative presentation" of Amelia. The show will include projections unique to this evening.

The event is free; however, reservations are strongly recommended since seating is limited. For reservations call (202) 633-8520 or click here

Amelia takes place at the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Eighth and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC.

* The intimate, actor-driven Amelia got its New York City premiere May 26-June 17 in a unique site-specific production on historic Governors Island. Performances were free and took place at Fort Jay's Powder Magazine, a shadowy, below-ground 19th-century storage building on the storied island off the southern tip of Manhattan. The run was mostly sold out, with audiences turned-away at the door due to capacity.

This is the same critically acclaimed Equity production that had its world premiere in January at Washington Stage Guild's home in Washington, DC. Webb portrays multiple characters opposite Kaladjian. Webb and Kaladjian are veterans of New York City's Aquila Theater Company and have performed together in regional theatres around the country.

Webb previously told Playbill.com that there were approximately 500 women who masqueraded as men and fought in the Civil War, adding that the play "isn't a celebration of the legendary generals that are so often at the center of history. This is the Civil War from the perspective of a woman, the story of common people dealing with uncommon circumstances."

Amelia "is a celebration of the inherent theatricality of two actors using only their voices, bodies and passion to recreate the power and tragedy of the American Civil War," Webb added.

The play runs 95 minutes and is performed without an intermission. Regional theatres interested in small-cast shows or works linked to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War have been requesting the script.

For more information about the schedule and logistics, visit AmeliaThePlay.com.

*

Amelia had its world premiere at the Washington Stage Guild in Washington, DC, where it was extended following positive reviews. It had two previous public developmental readings. It was selected to inaugurate the Davenport Reading Series sponsored by producer Ken Davenport (Godspell, Blithe Spirit, Oleanna). It was then invited to be a part of the Kennedy Center's Page to Stage reading series.

 
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