[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Shelley Cooper returns to the stage with a brand new lyrical solo musical, Emily F-cking Dickinson – America’s Favorite Recluse, running Saturday, January 17 only.
Poet. Recluse. Visionary.
About Emily F-cking Dickinson – America’s Favorite Recluse
A musical blending her real words, with original songs and script sparked by her complicated mind. It’s intimate, a little depressing, a little manic – and, somehow, funny. Regardless: always one wild night!
In this intimate, lyrical solo musical, Shelley Cooper steps into the mind and heart of Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most enigmatic poets. Interweaving original poetry and songs inspired by Dickinson’s most famous works, This solo musical explores the themes that shaped her life: hope, death, love, heartbreak, and the beauty of the natural world.
Through music and verse, we see Emily not as a distant literary figure, but as a deeply feeling human being, a woman whose emotions burned brighter and heavier than most. From moments of ecstatic joy to the shadows of loss, the show paints a portrait of a soul who lived inwardly but felt expansively.
With haunting melodies, poetic storytelling, physical theatre movement, and flashes of quiet humor, this solo musical invites audiences to feel as Emily felt – larger than life, unafraid to dwell in the depths, and forever chasing the truth that can only be found in words.
About the 30 Minutes or Less Festival!
Experience the Energy of Live Performance — in 30 Minutes or Less!
The 30 Minutes or Less Festival returns January 15–25, 2026 at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre in Los Angeles, showcasing bold, original, and wildly diverse short works that prove big impact doesn’t need a long runtime. From theatre, comedy, and dance to music, multimedia, and experimental hybrids, each piece delivers its punch in half an hour or less. With dozens of shows or all genres and styles, the festival celebrates creativity, community, and the thrill of live performance in its most concentrated form.
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To see what shows are playing, check out our theatre guide>>