Emily Dickinson entered my life early, through speech therapy, when words were something to practice and “lift my hat to.”
At sixteen, after seeing The Belle of Amherst for the first time, a quiet promise took hold: one day, I would play her.
That promise came to life decades later in a solo performance that, to be honest, genuinely scared me and was the hardest thing I had ever done. I was alone on stage for nearly two hours, with a script fully memorized and drawn largely from Dickinson’s poems and personal letters.
There was no room for improvisation and nowhere to hide. And as a devoted fan of this remarkable poet, every word mattered. Every moment required complete presence.
Produced by my company, Honey B Productions (named after my mother), and co-produced with the Ovation Award–winning Sierra Madre Playhouse, the production offered a rare opportunity to explore Dickinson not only as a poet, but as a woman of wit, contradiction, and fierce independence. It became both a joyful professional milestone and a profound artistic challenge.
Emily’s poetry continues to remind me to remain open, curious, brave, and willing to “dwell in possibility.”
Awards
StageSceneLA Scenies (2017):
- Outstanding Solo Performance
- Outstanding Production
- Outstanding Production Design
From the Critics
“Ferrell Marshall is luminous as Emily Dickinson, bringing the poet, the daughter, the sister, and the woman back to incandescent life in a production sure to be remembered as one of the year’s finest.”
— StageSceneLA
“Marshall has a sense of quietness in her portrayal, balancing Emily’s wit and darkness in ways that make her poetry sing.”
— Los Angeles Daily News
“A radiant, brave, and exciting performance.”
— Grigware Reviews (Critic’s Choice, 5 Stars)
“The play is a treasure… the polish and flair of Marshall’s outstanding work is another feather in Sierra Madre’s hat.”
— Broadway World LA
“Marshall is absolutely wonderful in the title role—unequivocally fun, highly amusing, and exciting to watch.”
— All About the Stage
“From the moment Ferrell Marshall enters, she emanates Emily Dickinson. Her nuanced facial expressions convey a remarkable range of emotion.”
— Pasadena Independent
“Ferrell Marshall approaches Dickinson with a generous understanding of both her poetry and the heart of the woman behind the words.”
— San Gabriel Valley Tribune
