MADAGASCAR, a new play by J.T. Rogers to be presented as part of the O’Neill Artist-In-Residence Series

Waterford, CT, September 14, 2004 — J.T. Rogers, an award winning playwright brings his new play, Madagascar to the O’Neill September 17 at 8:00 pm. The work, which was featured at New York City’s Epic Repertory Theatre Company in the summer of 2004, is the recipient of a 2004 NYFA playwrighting fellowship as well as an NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Award. The play is being directed by Gus Reyes and will continue on to the Salt Lake City Acting Company where it will premiere on November 16th. The acting company in residence at the O’Neill includes Maeve McGuire, Sherri Parker Lee and Joe Cronin.

Madagascar is the haunting story of a mysterious and unsolved disappearance that changes three lives forever. At three different periods in time, three Americans find themselves, alone, in the same hotel room overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome. A daughter, a mother, and an old family friend each tell us their individual story of how and why they have been drawn here. The three narratives weave back and forth ­ each contradicting, clarifying, deepening what the others say‹becoming strands of one disquieting tale. Madagascar is about the elusive nature of memory, and how the consequences of the actions we take ripple out in ways unforeseen.

Madagascar becomes the third project of the O’Neill’s Artist-in-Residence program, which was recently created to foster and develop new works, new voices and new theatrical avenues. Designed to complement the existing programs of the O’Neill Center this innovative new program will provide opportunities for artists year round. Future projects in the series will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the show are $15.00 and may be purchase in advance or by calling the O’Neill box office at (860) 443-5378 ext. 288 Performances will be held in the Dina Merrill Theater on the grounds of the O’Neill Theater Center, which is located at 305 Great Neck Road in Waterford, CT.

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford CT, is a learning community dedicated to advancing the American Theater through programs that encourage creative excellence and develop diverse voices and new work. These include the Puppetry Conference, the Playwrights and Musical Theater Conferences, the Critics Institute and the National Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program for theater artists. The O’Neill also owns and operates the Monte Cristo Cottage, childhood home of America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill, and holds an annual celebration honoring the life and works of its namesake every October.