BRIANNA SLOANE | CO-WRITER/DIRECTOR. EMMA AYRES | CO-WRITER/Performer. ELIZABETH PANGBURN | designer.
THE EMILY DICKINSON PROJECT IS CONCEIVED OF AND CREATED BY THREE WOMEN WHO SHARE A LOVE FOR ORIGINAL STORYTELLING, PLACE-BASED PERFORMANCE AND A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. GET TO KNOW THEM HERE, AND VISIT THEM AT TheatreTruck!
EMMA AYRES | CO-WRITER/Ensemble Member
Emma Ayres just graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a
self-created major in Arts in Education, with a focus on physical theater, playwriting, directing, education and Poetry of the Political Imagination. By day, Ayres works as a teaching artist with Enchanted Circle Theater, by night she is a musician. Directing credits include Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice (2013) with Detonated Theater Co., MOM BABY GOD (2013), with Madeline Burrows. Her playwriting credits include: The Water Project, The Emily Dickinson Project and artistic collaborator on MOM BABY GOD. Locally, she appeared in Peter Pan as Peter Pan at the University of Massachusetts, and Helena in A Midsummer’s Night Dream directed by Toney Simotes of Shakespeare & Co.
Growing up in Amherst, Ayres has been enthralled by the rich local history of the Pioneer Valley. She has been dreaming of Dickinson for years. How fortunate for Elizabeth, Brianna, Emma and Emily herself to meet. All enamored of the poetess, woman, and myth of Amherst herself. Together they seek to liberate the poet from her postmortem life defined by cloistered parsimony and introduce the woman in all her sublime variations. Recently, the Dickinson Museum found traces of the homestead’s original wallpaper within the poet’s bedroom. Ayres is fascinated by the idea of re-exposing local history through theatrical interpretation. To be able to tell this new old story within the magical walls that birthed it is a humbling gift. She’d like to thank you for supporting local artists telling local stories.
Emma Ayres just graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a
self-created major in Arts in Education, with a focus on physical theater, playwriting, directing, education and Poetry of the Political Imagination. By day, Ayres works as a teaching artist with Enchanted Circle Theater, by night she is a musician. Directing credits include Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice (2013) with Detonated Theater Co., MOM BABY GOD (2013), with Madeline Burrows. Her playwriting credits include: The Water Project, The Emily Dickinson Project and artistic collaborator on MOM BABY GOD. Locally, she appeared in Peter Pan as Peter Pan at the University of Massachusetts, and Helena in A Midsummer’s Night Dream directed by Toney Simotes of Shakespeare & Co.
Growing up in Amherst, Ayres has been enthralled by the rich local history of the Pioneer Valley. She has been dreaming of Dickinson for years. How fortunate for Elizabeth, Brianna, Emma and Emily herself to meet. All enamored of the poetess, woman, and myth of Amherst herself. Together they seek to liberate the poet from her postmortem life defined by cloistered parsimony and introduce the woman in all her sublime variations. Recently, the Dickinson Museum found traces of the homestead’s original wallpaper within the poet’s bedroom. Ayres is fascinated by the idea of re-exposing local history through theatrical interpretation. To be able to tell this new old story within the magical walls that birthed it is a humbling gift. She’d like to thank you for supporting local artists telling local stories.
ELIZABETH PANGBURN | DESIGNER.
Elizabeth is a theater artist and an educator. Two years ago she moved to Amherst from New York City in search of a more collaborative, locally resonant and environmentally responsible way of making theater.
As a storyteller and as an artist, Elizabeth seeks to create visuals that push the boundaries of the expected. Past theater projects include Street Scene, the 2014 Five College Opera at UMASS Amherst, Installation at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet NYC, First National Tour of The Wedding Singer and First National Tour of Altar Boyz, Jack and Jill at Shakespeare & Co and Genoveva at BardSummerscape.
As an educator, Elizabeth encourages a holistic and arts-centric perspective in her students. Past
teaching experience include UMASS Amherst, Bard College, Gordon College, Las Vegas Contemporary Art Museum and The Liberace Museum.
Elizabeth is a theater artist and an educator. Two years ago she moved to Amherst from New York City in search of a more collaborative, locally resonant and environmentally responsible way of making theater.
As a storyteller and as an artist, Elizabeth seeks to create visuals that push the boundaries of the expected. Past theater projects include Street Scene, the 2014 Five College Opera at UMASS Amherst, Installation at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet NYC, First National Tour of The Wedding Singer and First National Tour of Altar Boyz, Jack and Jill at Shakespeare & Co and Genoveva at BardSummerscape.
As an educator, Elizabeth encourages a holistic and arts-centric perspective in her students. Past
teaching experience include UMASS Amherst, Bard College, Gordon College, Las Vegas Contemporary Art Museum and The Liberace Museum.
BRIANNA SLOANE | CO-WRITER/DIRECTOR
Brianna fell in love with the Pioneer Valley during her days at Hampshire College, where she earned her B.A. in 2005 with a focus on physical and devised theatre. Her interest in traditional performance forms applied to new work brought her next to Tuscany, where she earned a certificate following a year of study at the Accademia dell’Arte (in Arezzo, Italy). Next stop was Chicago’s physical comedy specialists, Piccolo Theatre Ensemble, where she made her home for over four years. At Piccolo, she served as Education Outreach Director, appeared onstage and directed multiple productions.
In 2011, Brianna relocated to the Valley with her husband and cats. Happily settled on a beautiful farm in Sunderland, Brianna earned her MFA UMass in 2014. Mainstage directing credits at UMass include Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal (2012) and Constance Congdon’s Casanova (2013) and Peter Pan (2014). Locally, she also appeared in The Lonely Soldier Project (2013) and has worked as an assistant director on productions at Hartford Stage and Shakespeare & Co.
Fascinated with the tangible elements and wonderful stories of history , Brianna set out with Emma Ayres to capture the voice of Emily Dickinson (the woman, the poet, the legend!) last year. An entire chorus of funny, sweet, brilliant, whimsical and melancholy women was discovered in one. The opportunity to explore the fascinating Amherst Heroine through theatre, and in the rooms of her house, is a dream beyond imagination. Collaboration with Emma and Elizabeth, two fantastic artists, to bring our Dickinson discoveries to the community is an opportunity both humbling and thrilling.
"No joy can be in vain, but adds to some bright total, whose dwelling is unknown." -ED
Brianna fell in love with the Pioneer Valley during her days at Hampshire College, where she earned her B.A. in 2005 with a focus on physical and devised theatre. Her interest in traditional performance forms applied to new work brought her next to Tuscany, where she earned a certificate following a year of study at the Accademia dell’Arte (in Arezzo, Italy). Next stop was Chicago’s physical comedy specialists, Piccolo Theatre Ensemble, where she made her home for over four years. At Piccolo, she served as Education Outreach Director, appeared onstage and directed multiple productions.
In 2011, Brianna relocated to the Valley with her husband and cats. Happily settled on a beautiful farm in Sunderland, Brianna earned her MFA UMass in 2014. Mainstage directing credits at UMass include Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal (2012) and Constance Congdon’s Casanova (2013) and Peter Pan (2014). Locally, she also appeared in The Lonely Soldier Project (2013) and has worked as an assistant director on productions at Hartford Stage and Shakespeare & Co.
Fascinated with the tangible elements and wonderful stories of history , Brianna set out with Emma Ayres to capture the voice of Emily Dickinson (the woman, the poet, the legend!) last year. An entire chorus of funny, sweet, brilliant, whimsical and melancholy women was discovered in one. The opportunity to explore the fascinating Amherst Heroine through theatre, and in the rooms of her house, is a dream beyond imagination. Collaboration with Emma and Elizabeth, two fantastic artists, to bring our Dickinson discoveries to the community is an opportunity both humbling and thrilling.
"No joy can be in vain, but adds to some bright total, whose dwelling is unknown." -ED