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...
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.

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Into the Air

Recommended by

  • Lucy Wang:
    20 Apr. 2023
    “ 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

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