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She lived for adventure — in the clouds and beyond. But who was Amelia Earhart beyond the bomber jacket, and the aviator goggles? Did rough skies cause her to land in Derry, NI or was it destiny? Join us to find out.

The Aviator and the Showman uncovers the untold story of Ms Earhart, a young social worker and aspiring pilot who was chosen by ambitious publisher George Putnam to play the role of America’s daring female aviator at the height of Charles Lindbergh’s fame. What began as a publicity stunt soon evolved into a high-stakes partnership fueled by Putnam’s relentless pursuit of headlines and Earhart’s own hunger for adventure and recognition.

Her fame accelerated with bold milestones like her 1932 solo flight across the Atlantic. When she landed in a pasture near Derry, Northern Ireland, locals rushed to greet her and she was instantly hailed as a global hero. As the risks escalated, their ambitions would ultimately lead to her fateful and final flight.

The Society welcomes award-winning journalist, professor, and filmmaker Laurie Gwen Shapiro, whose writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and in two books of narrative nonfiction. She will join Maura Kelly, an award-winning producer, executive, and advisor in the creative and cultural economy, for an engaging conversation about her work.

(Doors open at 6:00pm, with the main event starting at 6:30pm).