Emily Dickinson will be brought to life next month as her poems are recited as part of a local school benefit.
Bethlehem Children’s School Director Sara Melita will portray the famous poet for the school’s upcoming dinner theater event. The one-woman show, called “The Belle of Amherst,” is said to be based on the secret life of Dickinson.
The theater event has become an annual tradition for the school, after it was started five years ago.
“In the past, it was traditional for the director to perform something,” said Melita. “I’m a new director, so I pulled out this one-women show I did previously.”
Melita formerly worked in theatre education for years at the New York State Theatre Institute in Troy. The Dickinson piece was often performed at libraries and historical societies in the region. The show tells of Dickinson’s life and shows possible motivations and inspirations for her poetry. Melita will portray Dickinson in Victorian garb, along with a few set pieces from the time.
The show is being directed by Dick Heart, who directed Melita for the first time 37 years ago in “Alice in Wonderland.”
“When I was young, I had a vivid imagination and was really shy,” said Melita. “My parents took me to an audition after dressing as Alice for Halloween. Being cast was the turning point in my life because it helped me come out of my shell.”
The costume was previewed for students as part of the school’s Halloween celebration. It also acted as a nice segue into a discussion on the Victorian Era and a unit on poetry.
“We want to incorporate those lessons here in our school,” said Melita. “Hopefully, it helps students express themselves and relate to the outside world. We want to help students find their own special talent.”
All of the money raised goes toward the small school’s scholarship program.
Bethlehem Children’s School was founded in 1995 by a group of parents. The Montessori school on Fisher Boulevard in Slingerlands now teaches children age 3 through eighth grade, after beginning preschool and kindergarten classes in 2011.
Last month, elementary and Spanish teacher Brittany Pardi went skydiving in an attempt to raise more funds for the school. The original goal was to raise $13,500, $1 for every foot Pardi was to fall. The jump was paid for by the school’s board, and the effort raised $2,100.
“It was amazing,” said Pardi of the experience. “About 12 students came with their families, and they came with a banner and we took pictures beforehand. I could hear them screaming and could see them before I even hit the ground. The whole thing was incomparable to anything else.”
The annual dinner theater event will be held at the Normanside Country Club in Delmar on Saturday, Nov. 15. It includes a cocktail hour featuring a cash bar, a three-course dinner and the theatrical performance. Tickets are $60 and may be purchased by contacting the school at 478-0224 or [email protected].
