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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.
List of contents
Table of ContentsForeword by Jordan R. Young
Prologue
Acknowledgments
¿1.¿Sober ecstasy
¿2.¿Julie
¿3.¿Charles and Bill
¿4.¿"Bitchy little spinster"
¿5.¿The play
¿6.¿Miracle on West 48th Street
¿7.¿Tour and television
¿8.¿Dickinson's letter to the world
¿9.¿Play in a time of plague: The Belle navigating Covid-19
10.¿Julie: "A thousand summers"
11.¿Charles: "Save it for the stage"
12.¿William Luce, "Playwrote"
Epilogue: I will not let thee go
Appendix. Helen Kingsley Krauss: Her letter to the world
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
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.
Summary
Tells the remarkable untold story of ‘the little play that could’. Covering the The Belle of Amherst’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 in the time of COVID-19.
