THE EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM INVITES YOU TO 
 
A Benefit Party for 'Perfect Crowds of Admirers' 
in celebration of Emily Dickinson's 179th Birthday
 
WITH A PREVIEW OF WILLIAM LUCE'S
The Belle of Amherst
"I expect I shall be the belle of Amherst when I reach my 17[9]th year. 
I don't doubt that I shall have perfect crowds of admirers at that age."
 
Barbara Dana as The Belle of Amherst
 
 The Emily Dickinson Museum cordially invites you to attend a celebration of the poet's 179th birthday on Thursday, December 10, from 5:30 until 7:30 pm, at the Lewis-Sebring Dining Commons at Valentine Hall on the Amherst College campus.  
 
This benefit celebration, held on Emily Dickinson's actual December 10 birth date, creates a chance for Dickinson admirers to become active stewards of one of Amherst's greatest treasures--the Dickinson family homes. In light of the recent ceiling collapse in the Homestead parlor and resulting preservation work, it is more important than ever for the poet's admirers to support her legacy. 
 
The sparkling Victorian birthday party includes a special preview of selections from William Luce's famed play, The Belle of Amherst, performed by acclaimed actress Barbara Dana. The birthday party will feature a menu, inspired by Dickinson family recipes, of savories and sweets for "Celebrated Days."
 
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, all proceeds go directly to benefit the Museum's operating fund!
 
Information and reservations at suggested donation amounts of $30, $50, $100, or $1,000 are available by contacting the Museum at (413) 542-5311 or by email at lvandoren@emilydickinsonmuseum.org. RSVP requested by December 7.
 

Please see the Museum's web page "Annual Birthday Celebration Fund-raiser" for more information. 
The complete Belle of Amherst will be presented on Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Kirby Memorial Theater at Amherst College, the site of Julie Harris's memorable 1976 appearance in the role.  
 
ABOUT BARBARA DANA
 
As both actress and author, Barbara Dana has had a longstanding interest in Emily Dickinson.  She is co-editor of Wider than the Sky: Essays and Meditations on the Healing Power of Emily Dickinson and author of  A Voice of Her Own: Becoming Emily Dickinson, a novel for young adults. Dana's portrayal of The Belle of Amherst debuted in July 2009 at the Emily Dickinson International Annual Meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.