Staging Emily Dickinson : The History and Enduring Influence of William Luce's the Belle of Amherst

Hayter-Menzies, Grant

ISBN 10: 1476689474 / ISBN 13: 9781476689470

Published by McFarland, 2023

About this Item

Unread book in perfect condition.

Seller Inventory # 45834537

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Staging Emily Dickinson : The History and Enduring Influence of William Luce's the Belle of Amherst
• Publisher: McFarland
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1476689474
• ISBN 13: 9781476689470
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: As New

About this title

Synopsis

With a writer who had never written a play, an actress who had never taken the stage alone, and a director who had never headed a live performance, The Belle of Amherst managed to become an American theater classic. Despite being savaged by critics attending its opening night in April 1976, the play, which details the life of Emily Dickinson, survived its baptism by fire and went on to appear in theaters across the world.

This is the remarkable untold story of "the little play that could." Covering the play's humble beginnings as well as its pioneers--like writer William Luce, director Charles Nelson Reilly and actress Julie Harris--this work also documents the modern efforts to keep the play alive. Exploring the show's enduring dramatic power, this book ultimately pays respect to the one-woman show that has triumphed for decades.

About the Author

Biographer Grant Hayter-Menzies lives in British Columbia. His works include biographies of Charlotte Greenwood, Princess Der Ling, Sarah Pike Conger, Pauline Benton, and Lillian Carter, along with the life of a dog, military mascot Rags of the First Division in World War I. He is the literary executor of playwright William Luce.