Anna Bella Eema

Anna Bella Eema by Lisa D'Amour

(3)
Productions (30)
Dramatic comedy with music
|
75 - 90 minutes
3 W,  (3-6 actors possible: 3-6 W, )
Content Notes: Adult language
Set: 3 chairs, 3 TV trays, and an assortment of kitchen utensils and found objects used to create an on-stage soundscape.

Ten-year-old Anna Bella and her hermetic mother Irene live in a ratty trailer on the edge of town. When their trailer park is slated for demolition because of interstate highway expansion, Irene refuses to leave. In this moment of crisis, Anna Bella creates a new girl out of the mud behind their trailer home. This mud-girl helps Anna Bella and Irene channel the supernatural and face the life they must live in the world outside their trailer home. A richly imagined tale of a fierce mother/daughter bond, spoken and sung by three women.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Ten-year-old Anna Bella and her hermetic mother Irene live in a ratty trailer on the edge of town. When their trailer park is slated for demolition because of interstate highway expansion, Irene refuses to leave. In this moment of crisis, Anna Bella creates a new girl out of the mud behind their trailer home. This mud-girl helps Anna Bella and Irene channel the supernatural and face the life they must live in the world outside their trailer home. A richly imagined tale of a fierce mother/daughter bond, spoken and sung by three women.

  • Dramatic comedy with music
  • |
  • 75 - 90 minutes
  • 3 W,  (3-6 actors possible: 3-6 W, )
  • Content Notes: Adult language
  • Set: 3 chairs, 3 TV trays, and an assortment of kitchen utensils and found objects used to create an on-stage soundscape.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-181-2

Published Reviews

"Its beauty and its depth are almost beyond language other than its own."

The Austin Chronicle

"Anna Bella Eema is a wild play."

The Village Voice

"Skillfully stylized...Ms. D'Amour's inspiration make[s] for a wise comment on identity..."

The New York Times

"One of the season's first great plays...a thrilling and challenging piece of theater."

Theatermania.com

Production History

DEC 06, 2023 - DEC 08, 2023
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT United States
Wesleyan University Middletown, CT United States
NOV 10, 2023 - NOV 12, 2023
Puffy Shirt Productions
Paterson, NJ United States
Puffy Shirt Productions Paterson, NJ United States
MAR 06, 2020 - MAR 15, 2020
Sol Productions
Vancouver, BC Canada
Sol Productions Vancouver, BC Canada
SEP 09, 2019 - SEP 15, 2019
Anja Homburg Director
Fitzroy North, VIC Australia
Anja Homburg Director Fitzroy North, VIC Australia
MAY 05, 2019 - MAY 05, 2019
Angels Theatre Company
Lincoln, NE United States
Angels Theatre Company Lincoln, NE United States
APR 06, 2018 - APR 07, 2018
Vernal & Sere Theatre
Atlanta, RI United States
Vernal & Sere Theatre Atlanta, RI United States
MAR 16, 2018 - APR 01, 2018
Vernal & Sere Theatre
Doraville, GA United States
Vernal & Sere Theatre Doraville, GA United States
OCT 25, 2017 - OCT 25, 2017
Village Academy Schools
Dublin, OH United States
Village Academy Schools Dublin, OH United States
APR 27, 2017 - APR 30, 2017
Northwest Arkansas Community College
Bentonville, AR United States
Northwest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR United States
OCT 21, 2016 - OCT 22, 2016
Village Academy Schools
Powell, OH United States
Village Academy Schools Powell, OH United States
MAR 31, 2016 - APR 02, 2016
Playwrights Horizons Theater School
New York, NY United States
Playwrights Horizons Theater School New York, NY United States
JAN 15, 2016 - JAN 16, 2016
N/A
Bloomington, IN United States
N/A Bloomington, IN United States
NOV 24, 2015 - NOV 28, 2015
Rough Magic
Dublin, Ireland
Rough Magic Dublin, Ireland
NOV 16, 2015 - NOV 18, 2015
Fordham Theatre Program
NYC, NY United States
Fordham Theatre Program NYC, NY United States
MAR 06, 2015 - MAR 08, 2015
The Theatre School At DePaul University
Chicago, IL United States
The Theatre School At DePaul University Chicago, IL United States
NOV 06, 2013 - NOV 10, 2013
Pace University Performing Arts
New York, NY United States
Pace University Performing Arts New York, NY United States
DEC 02, 2011 - DEC 23, 2011
The Catastrophic Theatre
Houston, TX United States
The Catastrophic Theatre Houston, TX United States
OCT 08, 2011 - OCT 23, 2011
Theatre Unbound
St. Paul, MN United States
Theatre Unbound St. Paul, MN United States
OCT 07, 2011 - OCT 22, 2011
Strand Theater Company
Baltimore, MD United States
Strand Theater Company Baltimore, MD United States
JAN 28, 2010 - FEB 13, 2010
Cleveland Public Theatre
Cleveland, OH United States
Cleveland Public Theatre Cleveland, OH United States
OCT 16, 2009 - NOV 07, 2009
Perishable Theatre
Providence, RI United States
Perishable Theatre Providence, RI United States
SEP 22, 2008 - OCT 12, 2008
Gas & Electric Arts
Philadelphia, PA United States
Gas & Electric Arts Philadelphia, PA United States
AUG 01, 2008 - AUG 16, 2008
Aces Wild
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Aces Wild Edinburgh, United Kingdom
JUL 25, 2008 - JUL 26, 2008
California State University, East Bay
Hayward, CA United States
California State University, East Bay Hayward, CA United States
JUL 24, 2008 - AUG 09, 2008
Core Performance Manufactory
Dallas, TX United States
Core Performance Manufactory Dallas, TX United States
JUN 08, 2007 - JUL 15, 2007
Crowded Fire Theater Company
San Francisco, CA United States
Crowded Fire Theater Company San Francisco, CA United States
OCT 01, 2005 - OCT 31, 2005
Gas and Electric Arts
Philadelphia, PA United States
Gas and Electric Arts Philadelphia, PA United States
OCT 01, 2003 - OCT 31, 2003
New Georges/HERE Arts Center
New York, NY United States
New Georges/HERE Arts Center New York, NY United States
JUN 01, 2003 - JUN 30, 2003
Ten Thousand Things Theater
Minneapolis, MN United States
Ten Thousand Things Theater Minneapolis, MN United States
MAY 01, 2001 - MAY 31, 2001
Refraction Arts/Physical Plant Theater
Austin, TX United States
Refraction Arts/Physical Plant Theater Austin, TX United States
No upcoming productions.
DEC 02, 2011 - DEC 23, 2011
The Catastrophic Theatre
Houston, TX United States
The Catastrophic Theatre Houston, TX United States
OCT 08, 2011 - OCT 23, 2011
Theatre Unbound
St. Paul, MN United States
Theatre Unbound St. Paul, MN United States
JAN 28, 2010 - FEB 13, 2010
Cleveland Public Theatre
Cleveland, OH United States
Cleveland Public Theatre Cleveland, OH United States
OCT 16, 2009 - NOV 07, 2009
Perishable Theatre
Providence, RI United States
Perishable Theatre Providence, RI United States
SEP 22, 2008 - OCT 12, 2008
Gas & Electric Arts
Philadelphia, PA United States
Gas & Electric Arts Philadelphia, PA United States
JUL 24, 2008 - AUG 09, 2008
Core Performance Manufactory
Dallas, TX United States
Core Performance Manufactory Dallas, TX United States
JUN 08, 2007 - JUL 15, 2007
Crowded Fire Theater Company
San Francisco, CA United States
Crowded Fire Theater Company San Francisco, CA United States
OCT 01, 2005 - OCT 31, 2005
Gas and Electric Arts
Philadelphia, PA United States
Gas and Electric Arts Philadelphia, PA United States
OCT 01, 2003 - OCT 31, 2003
New Georges/HERE Arts Center
New York, NY United States
New Georges/HERE Arts Center New York, NY United States
JUN 01, 2003 - JUN 30, 2003
Ten Thousand Things Theater
Minneapolis, MN United States
Ten Thousand Things Theater Minneapolis, MN United States
MAY 01, 2001 - MAY 31, 2001
Refraction Arts/Physical Plant Theater
Austin, TX United States
Refraction Arts/Physical Plant Theater Austin, TX United States