O’Neill Schedule July 11 through 17

Waterford, CT, July 6, 2002 — Script-in-hand performances of new plays by Matt Smart, Romulus Linney, Letitia Guillory and Katherine Griffith take center stage this week at the 2002 O’Neill Playwrights Conference, a month-long assembly of 19 playwrights and hundreds of professional theater artists, trustees, and teachers as well as audience members who wish to advance new work for the stage. The O’Neill Theater Center will hold staged readings of 15 new works through July 28, as well as a variety of free guest speakers during the All-Conferece Series. The speaker schedule is subject to change, for more information, please visit call (860) 443-1238.

Next week’s performances are:

THE BEBOP HEARD IN OKINAWA by Matt Smart, directed by Steven Williford
July 11 & 12 at 8:00 p.m., Edith

Unlike her Japanese mother and American father, sixteen-year-old Tomoko ignores the political tension on Okinawa during Japan’s general election — only caring about playing jazz on her trumpet. But with the violent events on the eve of the election, her and her family’s world are in danger of collapsing. Featuring actors Ako, Kati Kuroda, Bernie McInerney, Paul Shaefer, Sarah Tanaka and Jason Updike.

KLONSKY AND SCHWARTZ by Romulus Linney, directed by Harris Yulin
July 12 at 8:00 p.m. & July 13 at 2:30 p.m., Barn

In the hot and sultry summer of New York of 1966, poet Milton Klonsky struggles to help his friend, the more celebrated writer Delmore Schwartz, come to terms with his demons. Featuring actors Mark Blum and Chris Noth.

MAE by Letitia Guillory, directed by Jeffery Miller
July 13 at 8:00 p.m. & July 14 at 2:30 p.m., Dina Merrill Theater

Holed up in a dingy hotel room, MAE looks back on her life, recalling a beautiful family Sunday that ended in a tragic loss of innocence and praying for the mercy that will release her spirit. A one-woman show performed by its author.

THE BALLAD OF BILLY K: "THE TALL TALE ADVENTURES OF THE CRAZY K KID" by Katherine Griffith, music by Phill George, lyrics by Katherine Griffith and Phill George. Directed by Liz Diamond.
July 16 & 17 at 8:00 p.m., Amphitheater

A singing cowgirl (with the fastest spit in the West) grins down a branding, rides Trouble, goes Nowhere, dodges floating body parts, remembers her Alamo birth, fights for the Rancho Madre, finds her outlaw mama and feels the Big Sting in this tall-tale adventure. Featuring actors Michael Mulhern, Julia Murney, Paula Pizzi, Richard Riehle, Daphne Ruben Vega and C.J. Wilson.

OPC 2002 public readings take place Tuesday through Sunday. Ticket prices are $10 & $12, $8 weekdays for O&’Neill members. To reserve tickets or receive a summer schedule, call the O&’Neill Center box office at (860) 443-1238.

The Eugene O&’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford CT, is dedicated to the advancement of new work for the theater and creates and operates programs which complement that goal. These include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference, Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program for theater artists. The O&’Neill also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage.