Austin Shakespeare to Present THE BELLE OF AMHERST 11/14-24 at the Long Center

Austin Shakespeare presents William Luce's The Belle of Amherst, a one-woman show featuring Helen Merino November 14-24th at the Rollins Studio Theatre of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside Drive, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Award-winning actress Helen Merino returns to portray innovative American poet Emily Dickinson in this solo turn. With a wicked sense of humor, Dickinson defied the conventions of the time and was seldom published during her lifetime. Julie Harris won a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway and appeared in a popular TV adaptation of the play.

Director Ann Ciccolella said, "I love The Belle of Amherst because it creates a theatrical experience that radiates Emily Dickinson's unique love of family, friends and romance all through the lens of the natural world of birds, bees, sunshine and shadow. We are delighted to bring back Helen Merino who brings her individuality to Emily's tensile strength and poignant tenderness."

For the first time award winning costume designer, Susan Branch Towne joins the creative team along with Resident Lighting Designer Jason Amato, Set Designer Doug Mackie and Props Designer Shannon Richey.

Dickinson's unique style of writing has had a profound influence on the future of American poetry. Known as an eccentric in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, she withdrew increasingly from society, relishing her local notoriety and becoming an accomplished baker as well as poet. Eventually, she wrote 1,800 poems, moving from the sentimentality of her early work to more emotional poems. Dickinson's unique style of writing has had a profound influence on the future of American poetry.

Austin Shakespeare presents The Belle of Amherst, starring Helen Merino - Nov. 14-24 (tea with Emily December 1), running Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Low-priced Preview Wednesday, November 13 at 8 pm, plus, TEA WITH EMILY - December 1 at 1:30 pm.

Join Emily Dickinson for Tea on Sunday, December 1 at 1:30 pm in The Long Center AT&T Rooms before the 3:00 pm performance of The Belle of Amherst. Helen Merino will appear as Emily Dickinson to engage you with poetry and serve some of her famous Black Cake, along with other tasty treats and a sampling of tea and coffee. It's a wonderful prelude to the performance.

The Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center is located at 701 West Riverside Drive, Austin TX 78704. Call (512) 457-5100 or buy online, www.thelongcenter.org. Ticket prices: $19 - $33.

ABOUT AUSTIN SHAKESPEARE: Founded in 1984 and the only professional classical theater company in Central Texas, Austin Shakespeare presents professional theatre of the highest quality with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare, bringing to the public performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought-provoking, and eminently accessible, connecting the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today. Continuing its 30 years of free Shakespeare at Austin's Zilker Hillside Theatre, Austin Shakespeare also annually produces shows at The Long Center for the Performing Arts Rollins Studio Theatre, and their Young Shakespeare Company performs at Richard Garriott's Curtain Theater, an outdoor replica of an Elizabethan theater. Additional programs include the weekly "Shakespeare Aloud" reading group, Shakespeare summer camps, and the Young Shakespeare Company. Austin Shakespeare's education program 20/20 sends professional actors into the schools to encourage love of language. Austin Shakespeare is a member of the Austin Creative Alliance.

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