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Acclaimed Artists and Scholars to Join Edward Elbee and A.R. Gurney at 2nd Annual O’Neill Celebration October 20thWaterford, CT, September 24, 2001 – A full cast of noted performers, scholars, writers and historians has been added to the 2nd Annual Eugene O’Neill Celebration on Saturday, October 20. The event, commemorating the legacy of America’s only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, is free and the public is welcome to join in honoring O’Neill by taking part in one or all of the day’s activities. Highlights include the presentation of the Monte Cristo Award to Edward Albee and a keynote address by Connecticut playwright A.R. Gurney. The O’Neill Celebration builds on the initiative taken by the Arts Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut and Connecticut College during their millennial, eight-month celebration of New London’s most famous cultural resident, which was capped by the 1st Annual O’Neill Celebration. The event has been made possible by support from the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital and proceeds from the O’Neill’s July reading of LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. Those interested in learning more about O’Neill can attend a whole day of performances, individual speakers and panel discussions or choose the events they prefer from the following schedule:
10:30 a.m. Welcome and Keynote Address Noted Connecticut playwright A.R. Gurney delivers this year’s keynote address. Mr. Gurney’s popularly and critically acclaimed plays include THE DINING ROOM, LOVE LETTERS, SYLVIA, LATER LIFE, THE COCKTAIL HOUR and THE SNOW BALL.
11:45 a.m. "From James to Eugene" A distinguished panel of experts explore the transition in American drama from the swashbuckling melodramatic style embodied by James O’Neill, best known for his portrayal of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, to the earthy, humanistic work pioneered by his son Eugene. Speakers will include O’Neill scholar Jackson Bryer, theater historian Brenda Murphy and former L.A. TIMES drama critic Dan Sullivan.
1:15 p.m. Lunch break; box lunches available for purchase
2:15 p.m. "The Three Marys" Veteran actresses Elizabeth Franz (Broadway’s DEATH OF A SALESMAN), Helen Stenborg (Off-Broadway’s WIT) and Frances Sternhagen (Broadway’s THE HEIRESS) come together for the first time to discuss their personal experiences playing the monumental role of Mary Tyrone in O’Neill’s autobiographical LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.
4:00 p.m. "Fog" A reading of FOG, an early one-act of O’Neill’s written in 1914. The play sets a poet and a businessman on an oarless lifeboat, after a shipwreck, where the uncertain possibility of rescue reveals the character of the men and, as the youthful playwright saw it, an increasingly materialistic nation.
5:00 p.m. Monte Cristo Award Reception Mel Gussow, NEW YORK TIMES theater writer and author of EDWARD ALBEE: A SINGULAR JOURNEY, will introduce the recipient of the second annual Monte Cristo Award, Edward Albee. Mr. Albee is one of America’s foremost playwrights, having received three Pulitzer Prizes during a career highlighted by such influential works as WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, A DELICATE BALANCE, TINY ALICE, SEASCAPE, THREE TALL WOMEN and THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY. The Monte Cristo Award, a bronze image of O’Neill as a boy, was created by Connecticut sculptor Norman Legassie and honors "distinguished artistic achievement in the spirit of Eugene O’Neill’s pursuit of excellence." Last year’s award was presented to Jason Robards. Executive Director Howard Sherman commented, "O’Neill’s heritage offers an enormous opportunity for Waterford and New London to develop an annual event that celebrates O’Neill and theater. Based on what I’ve seen in other communities with much less to offer than Southeastern Connecticut I believe that if the cultural, tourist and business groups in this area unite we can create an event that will draw both from within and outside of Connecticut. My hope is that this year will be the springboard for an expanded, community-wide effort." Sherman is co-director of the event along with O’Neill National Theater Institute founder J Ranelli. Ranelli added, "The O’Neill Celebration is a keystone in the Center’s commitment to providing community service and establishing a resource for theater research and education." Saturday’s events will take place at the O’Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road in Waterford. The Monte Cristo Cottage, O’Neill’s childhood home, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 21 for guided tours. Special guests are subject to change, those interested in receiving more information or reserving a box lunch can call the O’Neill Center at (860) 443-5378. The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, founded in 1964 and based in Waterford CT, is dedicated to the development of new work for the theater and creates and operates programs which advance and complement that goal. These include the Playwrights Conference, Music Theater Conference, Critics Institute, Puppetry Conference and Cabaret Symposium, as well as the National Theater Institute and the Monte Cristo Cottage. | ||
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