Sharing Experiences: Susan Hutchison

The video below is a news story Susan Hutchison reported for KIRO-TV, which has strong ties to the story of Amelia. In 2000, Susan returned to Vietnam with her father who had been an Air Force fighter pilot and squadron commander in 1966-67. While standing on the flight line at his former base in Danang, they were surprised when a USAF plane landed. What happened next was an important experience for all concerned. This story originally aired in Seattle, and also in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day 2000.

Since Amelia is based on the true story of librettist Gardner McFall, Susan was touched by the similarities of the two women who as teenagers worried that their pilot fathers would not come home. Susan, who is now Executive Director of the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, which is a sponsor of the Amelia premiere, understood the powerful emotions the opera would provoke and deeply respects the writer's profound personal journey which led to this remarkable artistic work.

Amelia opens tonight (Saturday, May 8), and runs through May 22. There are only eight performances.