TLAB SHARES HOSTS
The Belle of Amherst
William Luce
Directed by AUSTIN PENDLETON
Performed by NINA LEVINE*
Stage managed by EMILY LAROSA
THE BELLE OF AMHERST by WILLIAM LUCE is a poignant and humorous portrayal of the reclusive 19th-Century poet, Emily Dickinson. From her home in Amherst, Massachusetts, the poet confides directly to the audience the joy and pain of her secluded life. Through shared poems, letters and recollections of encounters with significant people in Dickinson’s life, the play reveals her piercing wit and the striking beauty of her work.
Overlooked in her own lifetime, Emily Dickinson needs to be celebrated aloud over the cacophony of our time–redirecting attention to what is essential and truthful. This gently powerful play provides refuge from the turbulent world of the 21st Century. The small theater space was intentionally selected for its optimal ability to capture the intimate nature of the play. The simple production design complements that intention.
NINA LEVINE plays Emily Dickinson. As a seasoned solo performer, Nina engages easily with the audience in this cozy venue. Under AUSTIN PENDLETON’S direction, Nina brings Emily Dickinson to life in this one-person play.
*Actor appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association
PERFORMANCES
Thursday, October 23rd @ 7:30pm
Friday, October 24th @ 7:30pm
Saturday, October 25th @ 7:30pm
Sunday, October 26th @ 3:00pm
TICKETS
General Admission: $35.00 ($38.50 with fees)
MEET THE ARTISTS
Nina Levine* (Emily Dickinson)
Nina Levine is an actor and theatrical clown. After many years devising, performing and teaching clown, Nina returns to traditional theater as Emily Dickinson. Co-founder of the award-winning theatrical clown trio Those In The Nose. Selection of solo appearances in NY and Europe: The Quitter (originally commissioned by the NY Downtown Clown Revue, Dixon Place), Tea For One, My Man Pumpkin, Bumbled, Clock Cuckoo (Surf Reality). Nina’s solo Holiday Stress Trilogy was nominated for a Golden Nose Award and was beaten out by winning Best Clown Act with her own trio for At The Opera (Kraine Theater). The NY International Fringe Festival awarded the trio “Most Unusual Food Containers” for Bing Bang Booom! Appeared in and was an official blogger for the NY International Clown Festival (Brick Theater). Favorite NY Theater appearances: originated role of Michael Lee Goodman in Best All ‘Round, Velma Sparrow in Birdbath, Miranda in the Tempest, In Grimm Reality, Nina created role of Little Red Riding Hoodlum. Feature Film: Don’t Let The Night End (two roles), The Muppets Take Manhattan (Henson Associates). TV: NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Acting training: Michael Beckett, Austin Pendleton, Lee Strasberg Institute, Paul Austin. BFA Drama NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Clown training: Philippe Gaulier, David Shiner, Ami Hattab and Improvisation with Keith Johnstone.
Austin Pendleton (Director)
Austin Pendleton is an acclaimed actor, playwright and Tony-nominated director.
Emily LaRosa (Production Stage Manager)
Emily LaRosa is a freelance stage and production manager. A proud graduate of Brooklyn College, Emily has recently returned as the Production Manager for the Brooklyn College Musical Theatre Collective. Select Stage Management credits include …Weasel Festival (The Public Theatre), Home? (59E59 Theatres), Alcina, In The Next Room, Gloria (Brooklyn College), Once, Little Women (The Gallery Players) and Pippin (NYU Steinhardt). She sends love and thanks to her friends and family for their endless support. Find more of her and her work at emilylarosatheatre.wixsite.com/home
COVID-19 policy: In guidance with the city and state COVID-19 policies, we will no longer be requiring masks, but strongly recommend them.