Into the Air

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Full-length play
Early 20th century American aviatrix Blanche Stuart Scott doesn’t wait around for adventure and fame to find her. This Rochester-born woman goes after it, discovering that all along the way men want to claim her ideas as their own, use her flying expertise to enhance their own celebrity, or narrow her ambitions through marriage. Whether it’s confronting her mother’s disapproval of her choices...

Full-length play
Early 20th century American aviatrix Blanche Stuart Scott doesn’t wait around for adventure and fame to find her. This Rochester-born woman goes after it, discovering that all along the way men want to claim her ideas as their own, use her flying expertise to enhance their own celebrity, or narrow her ambitions through marriage. Whether it’s confronting her mother’s disapproval of her choices, defending her record as the best female pilot of her time, or battling for her rights in a male-dominated field—Blanche meets every challenge head on.

Finalist, Hudson Valley Theatre Festival
Semi-finalist, American Association of Community Theatre

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Into the Air

Recommended by

  • Donald Cooper: Into the Air by Cherielyn Ferguson
    “

    A young woman with a fervent desire to accomplish so much more than simply being someone's wife, braves frontiers, pushes boundaries and risks her well-being to realize her dreams of adventure and significance.
    This marvelous play tells the story of Blanche Stuart Scott, an intrepid cross-country motorist and pioneering aviator.
    This portrait of Miss Scott has a deepened resonance in this time, as rights to self-determination are being rescinded and our youth seek unearned clout as influencers.

    A young woman with a fervent desire to accomplish so much more than simply being someone's wife, braves frontiers, pushes boundaries and risks her well-being to realize her dreams of adventure and significance.
    This marvelous play tells the story of Blanche Stuart Scott, an intrepid cross-country motorist and pioneering aviator.
    This portrait of Miss Scott has a deepened resonance in this time, as rights to self-determination are being rescinded and our youth seek unearned clout as influencers.

    ”
  • Lucy Wang: Into the Air by Cherielyn Ferguson
    “

    What a thrill it is to read a play with a strong female protagonist who goes for what she wants and inspires us with her actions. Everyone will enjoy learning about this early 20th century aviatrix.

    What a thrill it is to read a play with a strong female protagonist who goes for what she wants and inspires us with her actions. Everyone will enjoy learning about this early 20th century aviatrix.

    ”

Character Information

With actors playing one or more parts, the play may be performed with four women and three men.

If doubling is necessary:


F Actor 1: Blanche
F Actor 2: Belle, Evie
F Actor 3: Delphine, Sadie, Photographer
F Actor 4: Harriet, Olive, Sam



M Actor 1: Harry
M Actor 2: Winkie, Glenn, Reporter, Otis, Howie
M Actor 3: Floyd, Jerome, Vic, Bill, Lester




  • Glenn Curtis
    Blustery pioneer aviator, owns Curtiss Exhibition Company
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Lester Rice
    Airshow promoter, young man full of misplaced confidence
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Sam
    Young daredevil pilot
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
  • Howie
    Young daredevil pilot
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
  • Bill Pickens
    Aerial circus publicist, focused on the bottom line
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Olive Welty
    Otis's wife, doesn’t mind the limitations of Dayton life
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Otis Welty
    Self-satisfied Dayton businessman, Harry’s friend
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Airshow Announcers
    Self-important voices, always offstage
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Sadie
    Vic’s girlfriend or wife, an equally avid airshow disaster-seeker
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Vic
    Disaster-seeking airshow observer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Jerome Fanciulli
    Shrewd manager of Curtiss Exhibition Company
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Blanche Stuart Scott
    Ambitious and outspoken, 24 years old at start of play
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Photographer
    Representative photographer who appears in two scenes
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Reporter
    Representative newshound who appears in three scenes
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Floyd Baxter
    Cigar-chewing manager of Willys-Overland’s NYC office
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Harriet Quimby
    Journalist and aviatrix, a bit of a self-promoter
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Evie Havemeyer
    Socialite wearing a gigantic hat
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Thaddeus "Winkie" Cameron
    Gadabout sporting spats and a bowtie
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Delphine Porter-Pierson
    Socialite/matron, a frothy party-giver
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Harry Tuttle
    Press agent, an operator but still a nice guy
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Belle Scott
    Blanche’s mother, traditionalist
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman