
One commonality between both Amelias, Emerson says, is that they idolize their father. “This sets the groundwork for the glimpses the audience has of Amelia and Dodge interacting (in my scenes), and also makes the fear that cripples Kate’s Amelia so believable.” (Below, Lindsey rehearses a scene with William Burden, who plays her father, Dodge.)

In addition to learning about McFall, both Emerson and Lindsey have done additional research for their characters. Because she’s playing a 10-year-old girl, Emerson has been reviewing videos of her grade school musicals and dance recitals. “Watching those has certainly helped remind me of my physical nature at that age.”
Lindsey has been reading up on the Vietnam War to understand the situation during Dodge’s second call to duty. She’s also been working with composer Daron Aric Hagen over the past few years to tailor some of her music to her voice, which she says “made all the difference in my ability to really sing into the music and try to get the words as clear as possible.”

Both singers have a history with director Stephen Wadsworth (shown at right working with Lindsey in a staging rehearsal), after training with him in the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, and they’re happy to be reuniting with him for this world premiere. “He allows you to follow your instincts,” Lindsey says of working with Wadsworth. “He cares very deeply that we, as the performers, are fully dedicated to the set intentions of the words or phrases.” Also, says Emerson, “Stephen really, really understands people. That’s part of why his storytelling is so clear and so moving.”
Staging rehearsal photos © Bill Mohn.
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