“A Belle of Amherst” will be staged at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St. in Bath.

Actress Ginger Grace will capture the world of Emily Dickinson, with all of its secrets, eccentricities and passions.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-86) was an American poet. While Dickinson was a prolific private poet, fewer than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems were published during her lifetime. Dickinson’s poems are unique for the era in which she wrote; they contain short lines, typically lack titles, and often use slant rhyme as well as unconventional capitalization and punctuation.

Considered an eccentric by locals, she developed a noted penchant for white clothing and became known for her reluctance to greet guests or, later in life, to even leave her bedroom. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence. Dickinson was a recluse for the later years of her life

Grace celebrates not only the spirit of Emily Dickinson with her story — filled with heart and humor. Met with surprises at every turn, she puts pen to paper and overcomes daunting challenges. At times, she is compelled to “stop the world” as creativity starts — and her poems come to life in the unique voice that defied the conventions of her time.

Tickets cost $20 in advance or $23 at the door. Tickets are available by calling the box office 442-8455.


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