Emilia

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Written By Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

Directed by Bridget Leak

Sound Designed by Kaitlin Barnett Proctor

Production Sound Engineer - Bryan Pivaral

Emilia details the life of Emilia Bassano, a woman of Italian background who became one of the first to see her poetry printed in England. Labeled the "dark lady" in William Shakespeare’s sonnets, the play envisions her life beyond that label showing a woman who worked hard to make her voice heard when silence was expected. By placing historical facts beside modern views, the play highlights women who have gone unrecognized or been wiped from records. 

By combining historical fiction with modern relevance, Emilia shows how women have been left out of history and how they still fight to make themselves heard. It celebrates creativity, resistance next to sisterhood while urging us to value women’s roles in history and continue the search for gender fairness. The play finally asks viewers to rethink the stories we share about the past and whom we choose to remember.