Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors Morgan McGinley at Centennial Celebration of AH, WILDERNESS!

June 22, 2006

New London ~ In 1933, Eugene O'Neill, America's only Nobel prize winning playwright, wrote his only comedy, AH, WILDERNESS! This play, like his tragic autobiography LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, is set in New London's Monte Cristo Cottage, the only real home Eugene O'Neill was ever to know. The play is set on the Fourth of July, 1906.

On Saturday, July 1, 2006, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center will celebrate the centennial of the setting of AH, WILDERNESS! with festivities for the whole family and a special tribute to New London's own Morgan McGinley. Mr. McGinley is Grand Marshall for the day's events.

Mr. McGinley's connection to this celebration and to Eugene O'Neill is deep and spans generations, going back to the early 1880's when the O'Neill family made their summer residence on Pequot Avenue. McGinley's ancestors were in fact friends with the O'Neill's and served as the models for the Miller family of O'Neill's happy comedy.

Festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, at the Monte Cristo Cottage, 325 Pequot Avenue with a costume parade for children of all ages. Costumes can celebrate the early 1900's, the time period of AH, WILDERNESS! and/or the Fourth of July. Games and prizes, face-painting, and readings of scenes from the play will go on through out the day.

At noon, a free concert by the United States Coast Guard Band Brass Quintet will be held in the back garden of the Cottage. Guests are invited to bring picnic lunches and lawn chairs or blankets. The festivities will conclude at approximately 2:00 p.m.

The Monte Cristo Cottage will be open for tours until 4:00 pm.

All activities of the day are free and open to the public.