The play “Dear Elizabeth” starring locally-renowned actors Rosemary Luke and John Newkirk  will be presented at The Cherry Center for the Arts on March 31st, April 1st, and April 2nd, 2017. The pair bring to life letters written by poet laureates Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell over the course of their thirty year relationship.  Rarely meeting in person, Bishop and Lowell beautifully expressed their feelings and mastery of the written word in over four hundred letters exchanged between 1947 and 1977, the year of Lowell’s untimely death.

Playwright Sarah Ruhl fell in love with the letters while confined to bedrest during a challenging twin pregnancy, and felt compelled to bring their love story to the stage. “I think we are starved for the sound of poetry, ” said Ruhl. “I wonder if Bishop and Lowell are among the last great people of letters to write out their lives in letter form.”

Prior to each evening performance, twentieth century literature scholar Dr. Renee Curry will provide an insightful overview of the bond between these two literary giants.

Please be sure to join us for this celebration of friendship and poetry.  March 31st and April 1st at 6:30PM. Sunday matinee performance on April 2nd at 2:00PM. Tickets are $20.00, available at brownpapertickets.com.