The Belle of Amherst

Island Theatre at the Library presents The Belle of Amherst by William Luce, directed by Steve Stolee and featuring Jennifer Hodges as Emily Dickinson.

This whimsical one-woman show is based on the life of perhaps the most well-known and beloved poet in American history: Emily Dickinson. Told in two acts, the play gives voice to one of America’s most enigmatic and eccentric artists. Drawing largely from Dickinson’s poetry and letters, The Belle of Amherst is a living, breathing autobiography of a true nonconformist. In a world where women’s choices were severely restricted, Emily Dickinson carved out a singular life behind closed doors and created a new kind of poetry, conversational and intimate, with the rules of verse sometimes set aside. The show offers a window into her life, a life that was ultimately too big to be lived outside. Come see why America has always had a love affair with Emily Dickinson, her poetry, and the fascinating life of seclusion she had the courage to choose to protect her gift and her passion.