Going up December 4th-7th at the Drama Desk Award Winning Venue, the East Village Basement...

Dear Susie,

These two words are how many of Emily Dickinson’s letters and poems began, with an affectionate address to her sister in law and next door neighbor, Susan Gilbert. They are also the two words that were erased from any posthumous publication of Dickinson’s work.

In a rare display of hospitality, poet-recluse Emily Dickinson welcomes us into her own private world, sharing her triumphs, fears, and her greatest love, Sue. This is Emily's story as it's yet to be told: audiences enter her bedroom and hear her speak beyond the infamous poems...and she has a lot to say.

Meet the team:

NICOLE LeBLANC (Playwright) (she/her) is a New York City based actor, playwright, and teaching artist. Originally from Nantucket, MA, a rather small spit of sand thirty miles out to sea, she is heavily influenced by the natural world and community she grew up in. She is a proud graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. There, she honed her craft as an actor, deepened her appreciation for movement, and developed an understanding of the body as a conduit for creative expression. Her work is physical, feminist, and often historical. You can find her on instagram @nickileb or at www.nicoleleblanc.net

MAYA SHORE (Director) is a director, writer, and producer based in New York City. She received her Bachelors from Barnard College where she directed numerous plays. In Summer 2024, Maya was awarded the Dasha Epstein Fellowship to support an artistic residency at New York Stage and Film where she was the Assistant Director of Margaret Cho’s Mommy, A One Woman Cho. Most recently, Maya served as the Directing Intern on the Off-Broadway run of All Nighter, the Assistant Director of the Off-Broadway run of Berlindia!, and the Director of the off-off Broadway run of BITCHES. For more, go to mayaeshore.com or find her on instagram: @mayaeshore

ELIAS HUSIAK (Producer) is a NYC born-and-raised performer, producer and co-founder of East Village Basement. He's performed all around NYC including The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center (National Queer Theatre), BAM Fisher, Pregones/PRTT (R.Evolucion Latina), National Sawdust (Beth Morrison Projects) and New World Stages. Graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse and Ithaca College (BFA Musical Theatre) IG: @elihusiak -- www.eliashusiak.com.

EAST VILLAGE BASEMENT is a multipurpose theatre/arts space located in the heart of the East Village, one of New York City’s most vibrant artistic neighborhoods. The space is designed like a cozy living room, providing an intimate and creative atmosphere for small-scale shows, readings, rehearsals, events and more. Visit www.eastvillagebasement.com (https://www.eastvillagebasement.com/) to learn more.