THE BELLE OF AMHERST, Starring Joely Richardson, Begins Performances Tonight

The Belle of Amherst, William Luce's acclaimed one-woman play of the private yet prolific poet Emily Dickinson, begins performances tonight, October 7th, for a new production starring Golden Globe Award nominee Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck," Side Effects) and directed by Steve Cosson (The Civilians, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play).

The Belle of Amherst will play a limited engagement at off-Broadway's Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). The production officially opens on Sunday, October 19th.

The Belle of Amherst is produced by Don Gregory, who also brought the original 1976 production to the stage.

In The Belle of Amherst, Emily Dickinson welcomes audiences into her lifelong Amherst homestead in mid-19th century Massachusetts. While Dickinson found solace in solitude through much of her life, acclaimed playwright William Luce weaves her poems, diaries, and letters into a one-woman portrait of one of America's greatest and most prolific poets, mixing Dickinson's encounters with close friends and family with the poet's own, often amusing observations. "Full of passion and poetry and heart" (New York Daily News), The Belle of Amherst illuminates a brilliant wordsmith through the words she left behind.

The creative team includes Antje Ellermann (scenic design), William Ivey Long (costume design), David Weiner (lighting design), and Daniel Kluger (sound design).

The Belle of Amherst will play Tuesdays at 7PM; Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8PM; Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2PM; and Sundays at 3PM. There will be no matinee on Wednesday, October 8. There will be no evening performances on Wednesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 31. The show will be dark on Thursday, November 27; Thursday, December 25; and Thursday, January 1. Added performances are scheduled for Monday, November 24 at 7PM; Sunday, December 28 at 7PM and Sunday, January 4 at 7PM.