Happy New Year
In this issue
-- The Belle is Back!
-- Museum Celebrates Dickinson's 179th Birthday
-- Poetry Discussion Group in 2010
-- Save these Dates for our 2010 Programming -- New York Botanical Garden Dickinson Exhibit -- Homestead Ceiling Update -- Support the Emily Dickinson Museum -- About the Museum -- Are you on FacebookŪ? Join us!
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The Belle is Back! 
The Emily Dickinson Museum presents a
benefit performance of William Luce's
critically acclaimed play, The Belle of
Amherst with actress Barbara
Dana at 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 11, at the Kirby
Theater at Amherst College. Based on the life
of Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), the one-woman
play dramatically portrays the poet's
private thoughts, desires, and fears through
extensive reference to her poetry, letters,
and reminisces of encounters with the
significant people in her life.
Preferred seating is available for $50 per ticket; general admission tickets are available for $25 for adults, and $15 for students. For tickets and information contact info@emilydickinson museum.org or call 413-542-5311.
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Museum Celebrates Dickinson's 179th Birthday 
"Perfect crowds of admirers" flocked to
Lewis-Sebring Dining Commons on December 10th
to celebrate the 179th anniversary of Emily
Dickinson's birthday. The centerpiece of
birthday festivities was a riveting preview
of scenes from William Luce's playThe
Belle of Amherst, performed by actress
Barbara Dana. Her full performance of the
play is scheduled for March 11 at Kirby
Theater at Amherst College.
In addition to the performance preview, about 125 guests enjoyed a delectable menu of savories and sweets inspired by menus of Emily's sister-in-law Susan Dickinson, strolling musicians performing popular music of nineteenth century New England, and a rousing, touching toast from Julie Harris, who originally performed the title role in The Belle of Amherst thirty years ago.
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Poetry Discussion Group in 2010 
Join us for lively and informal discussions
on Emily Dickinson's work. Each month a
different theme will be examined. The Poetry
Discussion Group meets on
Fridays once a month from noon to 2 p.m. at
different locations, February 26,
March 26, April 23 and May 28. Check the web
page for topic and facilitator information.
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Save these Dates for our 2010 Programming 
The Emily Dickinson Museum 2010 season will
include audience favorites such as the spring
"Poetry
Walk" Saturday, May 15, and "Creatures
of Bliss and Mystery Circus" Saturday,
July 10, 2010. The ever popular September Poetry
Marathon will have a bit more spice with a
Dickinson inspired Bake-Off.
On Saturday, March 27, we will host a joint lecture "An Afternoon of Domesticity: The Dickinsons' Domestic Life." with authors Daneen Wardrop and Aife Murray and on Saturday, April 10, in collaboration with the Jones Library, we will be "Celebrating Emily Dickinson's Words " with a day of workshops, poetry discussion, and readings. Look to your monthly E-Update to keep informed about all our upcoming programs or look for information on the Events page of our website.
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New York Botanical Garden Dickinson Exhibit 
The New York Botanical Garden will be
featuring an exhibition from May 1 - June 13,
2010 on Emily Dickinson. Emily Dickinson's
Garden: The Poetry of Flowers will
demonstrate the plants and flowers that
influenced Dickinson's poetry and other
writings.
The exhibition will include a re-creation of Dickinson's own mid-19th century flower garden in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. On display will be a replica of the Homestead and the Evergreens, including the pathway connecting the homes. The types of wildflowers and local flora that were available locally around Amherst will also be featured. On Tuesday, May 11, the Emily Dickinson Museum will sponsor a bus trip to the New York Botanical Garden to see the Dickinson exhibit. The daylong excursion includes round-trip transportation between Amherst and the New York Botanical Garden, a guided tour of the exhibit, and free time to explore the garden on your own. The cost is $55 per person if reservations are made before May 1; $65 per person on or after May 1. To reserve a place, or for more information, contact Nan Fischlein, program coordinator, at nfischlein@emilydickinsonmuseum.org or 413-542-2034. Visit the New York Botanical Garden's website at nybg.org for more information about the exhibition.
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Homestead Ceiling Update 
At the end of October, the ceiling in the
front parlor of the Homestead fell into the
room. Although tours were in progress, no one
was in the parlor at the time of the
incident, and there were no injuries. An
investigation of the collapse by a structural
engineer and preservation architect revealed
that the heavy plaster ceiling was
inadequately secured to the joists and
framework above and that other ceilings in
the main block of the house were constructed
in the same way.
It was decided to replace all the ceilings on the first two floors of the Homestead to remove risk of failure in the future. Repairs are underway, and the Museum expects to re-open the Homestead to the public on March 31. A silver lining in this incident is the opportunity it gives for study of the building's history. The photograph at right shows strips of two previously unknown wallpapers hidden by the early 20th century ceiling. These might have been wallpapers Emily Dickinson saw!
If you would like to make a special donation
to support repair of the Homestead ceilings,
please mail a check to the Museum at the
following address:
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Support the Emily Dickinson Museum 
The Emily Dickinson Museum is a vibrant literary
landmark, honoring of one of the world's
greatest poets. The museum has grown
dramatically
in its programs, audience, and impact in the
short
years since its creation in 2003, and attracts
worldwide attention. It owes its success in
large
measure to the generous encouragement of its
many
dedicated friends and supporters.
In these times of economic challenge for non-profit cultural organizations, we especially need your help to maintain the tours, programs, and connection with the poet's world at the Emily Dickinson Museum. Read a compelling message about the Museum's needs and goals offered by Cullen Murphy, editor-at-large for Vanity Fair magazine and a member of the Emily Dickinson Museum's Board of Governors.
Make your gift now via PayPal
Or mail your contribution to:
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About the Museum 
The Emily Dickinson Museum: The Homestead and
The Evergreens is dedicated to educating diverse
audiences about the poet's life, family,
creative work,
times, and enduring relevance, and to
preserving and
interpreting the Homestead and The Evergreens as
historical resources for the benefit of
scholars and the
general public. The Emily Dickinson Museum is owned by the Trustees of Amherst College and has its own Board of Governors, which is responsible for raising the Museum's operating and capital funds. The Museum is a member of Museums10, a collaboration of ten museums linked to the five colleges in the Pioneer Valley. The Tour Center may be reached at 413-542-2947, Wednesday through Sunday, during museum hours.
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Are you on FacebookŪ? Join us! 
The Museum has created a presence on Facebook to share information and tools with the Facebook commmunity. Become a fan today! Just Click on the Facebook Icon.
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Quick Links... |
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For general information, contact the Museum at
Recorded Information:
413-542-8161
Website:
http://www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org
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