Actress Kathleen Mulligan. (Photo courtesy The Waldo Theatre)
The Waldo Theatre is pleased to announce a benefit performance of “The Belle of Amherst” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25.
The play by William Luce draws on Emily Dickinson’s poems and letters to create a portrayal of the life and spirit of the great American poet. Set in her home in Amherst, Mass., the play depicts Dickinson’s experiences over many years;, focusing on her encounters with significant people in her life, and expressing both the agony of her seclusion with bright, moments of joy.
This one-night-only performance is a fundraiser for The Waldo Theatre, and admission is pay-what-you-can. A suggested donation is $10 – $25, and everyone is welcome.
“The Belle of Amherst” utilizes Dickinson’s poems, diaries, and letters to recreate her encounters with important individuals, all of whom are portrayed by professional actor and theater educator Kathleen Mulligan.
A proud member of Actors’ Equity for 35 years, Mulligan has performed across the U.S., and has brought “The Belle of Amherst” to Lebanon, northern India, and Laos as a Fulbright scholar. She is a professor of voice and speech in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College.
As Dickinson’s editor did, Mulligan has ties to the Midcoast, making this a perfect pairing of artists and locales.
This one woman tour-de-force won a Tony Award in 1976 (for Best Actress Julie Harris), as well as a Drama Desk award for Unique Theatrical Experience.
Please stay after the show for a conversation with Mulligan and Dickinson scholar Ivy Schweitzer, moderated by Waldo board member Michael Amico. Why are people so fascinated by Dickinson’s life as much as her poetry? How did knowledge of Dickinson’s real life inform Mulligan’s preparation for the role? How was the play received in the Middle and Far East? What aspects of the story are imaginatively embellished and why? What else have people learned about Dickinson since the play was written? These and other questions will be discussed.
Tickets to this and many other shows are available via The Waldo Theatre’s website: thewaldotheatre.org. The Waldo Theatre is located at 916 Main St. in Waldoboro.
