American poet Emily Dickinson, who will be portrayed Dec. 3 at the La Plata Campus, exchanged spirited, engaging letters with family and friends from her family home with nearly 1,800 of her poems published for the first time after she died. Illustration by Tom Chalkley. All Rights Reserved.

As part of Chautauqua 2014’s series on “Creative Women: Breaking the Mold,” the College of Southern Maryland will feature Emily Dickinson, performed by MiMi Zannino, beginning at 7 p.m., Dec. 3 at the La Plata Campus, 8730 Mitchell Road, Center for Business and Industry, BI Building, Chaney Enterprises Conference Room, Room BI-113. This performance of Emily Dickinson is presented in partnership with the Maryland Humanities Council as part of the Chautauqua program, an interactive, family-friendly presentation.

A 19th-century American poet, Dickinson exchanged spirited, engaging letters with family and friends, exploring events of her day and addressing intellectual and artistic topics of the time. Although she was a prolific poet, only a dozen of her works were published during her lifetime, with nearly 1,800 published for the first time after her death. Her works are considered among the finest in the English language. The Maryland Humanities Council describes Dickinson as playful yet mysterious, highly independent in her beliefs and always ready with her own brand of charming wit.

Zannino wrote the script for this solo performance which offers a glimpse of the secrets of Dickinson’s brilliant heart as the audience joins her in a farewell tea during a visit in Washington, D.C., with Dickinson’s father, a member of the United States Congress.

Certified by The Teaching Artist Institute, Zannino is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, majoring in English and World Literature. She has a master of arts from Towson University.

The performance is free. For information on Zannino’s portrayal of Dickinson, visit www.emilydickinsonlive.com. For information on the arts at CSM, visit www.csmd.edu/Arts.

CSM’s campuses are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Audio description for the visually impaired and sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired are available with a minimum two weeks advanced notices. If you are interested in these services, please contact the academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614.