Dear Miss Barrett at The Center for the Arts

Sarah Martin, 24, manages a rare-book shop / tearoom in an American city. She adores all things Victorian and dreams of living in a more civilized era. Her kindred spirit across time is Victorian English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. In 1845, Elizabeth dreams of escaping the dark London room where, in frail health, she is kept a virtual prisoner by her domineering Papa. Forbidden by Papa ever to marry, Elizabeth receives an extraordinary fan letter from the young, rising literary star, Robert Browning. In the present, Sarah receives an equally extraordinary offer from her boyfriend Henry, and two fabulous love stories, sumptuously told in gorgeous melodies and charming dialog, unfold back and forth across time. Richly embroidered with their many historic letters and poems, spoken or exquisitely sung, the Brownings little-told yet astonishing romance is given fresh relevance through the trials and humorous adventures of an endearing modern couple. This is a full-evening show with 24 original songs and a cast of around a dozen, including the two lead couples, Papa Barrett, and an ensemble who play various roles.