FALL 2013 NEWSLETTER FALL 2013 C HRIS C HRISTOPHERSEN AND A NNA C HRISTIE FEATURED TH AT 14 A NNUAL E UGENE O’N EILL F ESTIVAL It isn’t often that an audience has a chance to get a handle on how a playwright develops his ideas and his plays. This year’s Eugene O’Neill Festival will provide this unique opportunity. Double-barreled productions of two of Eugene O’Neill’s most matched plays – the well-known Anne Christie and the seldom produced Chris Christophersen – will be the centerpieces of the 14th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival. The two productions offer a rare face-off between his plays. Written in 1920, Chris Christophersen has the vagaries of a romantic sensationalized 19th century melodrama, while Anna Christie, rewritten and retitled one year later emerges as a 20th century psychological drama. The re-work paid off for O’Neill, because Anna Christie landed the author his second Pulitzer Prize in 1922. Anna Christie, produced by Role Players Ensemble, opens on September 6 with performances continuing through September 21 at the Village Theatre in downtown Danville. Chris Christophersen has its run for four performances September 26 - 29 in the Old Barn at Tao House, part of the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in the Danville hills. Performances on Thursday thru Saturday begin at 8:00 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Eden Neuendorf, John Hale, and Josh Schell in a scene from Chris Christophersen. To make this year’s Festival productions even more attractive, both plays will be performed by a single company of actors (see page 5). What’s Inside “This is a rare treat for playgoers,” says Eric Fraisher Hayes, the O’Neill Panel: Classics & Modernism in Drama ...... 2 Foundation’s Vice President of Programs, and the artistic director of Role New Board Members ................................... 4 Players Ensemble. It’s one story, two plays and one company of actors. Festival Calendar ........................................... 4 But, it’s also two starkly different worlds.” “Garbo Talks!” .............................................. 6 Hayes will direct Chris Christophersen, and George Maguire, a notable NPS Report ..................................................... 7 (Continued on page 5) Book Review ................................................... 8 See details on page 3 for the all-inclusive Festival Package Ticket. Gems of Tao House ..................................... 9 Plays, panels, and other events at one convenient price. Only O’Neill Studio Retreat .............................. 10 from the Eugene O’Neill Foundation! P.O. Box 402 Danville CA 94526-0402 ~ www.eugeneoneill.org ~ 925.820.1818 FALL 2013 MODERN AUDIENCES/CLASSIC PLAYS FESTIVAL PREVIEW AT DANVILLE TH This year’s O’Neill Festival offers an on-target example of LIBRARY: AUGUST 27 how drama changes over the years. From Chris Christophersen (written in 1920) to Anna Christie (1921), Eugene O’Neill’s dramatic worldview evolved from the romantic drama of the 19th century to the modern drama of the 20th century. This evolution - and how playwrights and directors have addressed the changes in culture over the years – is the focus of a special panel discussion to which the public is invited. Sponsored by the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, the panel will feature notable playwrights, actors and If you want a sneak preview of this year’s “O’Neill vs. directors. It will be held on Sunday, September 22, at 2:00 O’Neill” plays, here’s the event you’ve been looking for. in the Old Barn at Tao House, part of the Eugene O’Neill On Tuesday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m., Eric Fraisher Hayes, National Historic Site in Danville. director of Chris Christophersen, and artistic director Moderating the panel - Modern Audiences/Classic Plays - for Role Players Ensemble, will present a personal pre- will be Michael Krasny, long-time host of “Forum,” view of the two plays. Focus will be on how O’Neill, as an KQED’s news and public affairs program. evolving playwright in the early 1920s, wrote one play (Chris Christophersen) following many of the classic dra- Participants include Jasson Minadakis, artistic director of matic traditions of the 19th century. Just one year later the Marin Theatre Company; Joy Carlin, long-time Bay O’Neill re-wrote Chris Christophersen into what be- Area director and actress; Trevor Allen, playwright and come Anna Christie, tracking the new realism he emulat- artistic director of San Francisco’s Black Box Theatre ed from European playwrights like Ibsen, Chekhov and Company; and Rob Melrose, artistic director and co- Strindberg. Anna Christie went on to win the Pulitzer founder of San Francisco’s Cutting Ball Theater. Prize, and Chris Christophersen was largely forgotten. “This promises to be a very illuminating discussion,” said The public is invited to this sneak preview of “O’Neill vs. Eileen Herrmann, coordinator of the project and a O’Neill at the Danville Library, 400 Front Street,. There is member of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s Board of no charge. Directors. “This movement into realism -- what we call ‘modern theatre’ -- began with the realistic plays of Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg and Anton Chekhov Happy Birthday, Gene beginning about 1875. O’Neill was very much taken with this change, and it is reflected in most of his later works.” Our favorite playwright is having a birthday party, and we want you to The public is invited to the discussion. A $10 donation is join in the celebration. requested. Shuttles to Tao House will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eugene Gladstone O’Neill (1878 - on Sunday, September 22, from the Museum of the San 1953) celebrates his 125th birthday Ramon Valley on Railroad Avenue. on October 16th. You’re invited to join us in the Courtyard of Tao House starting at 6:30 p.m. on September 27 or September 28 immediately prior to the evening performances of Chris Christophersen in the Old Barn. The Birthday Gala, a hosted champagne reception, is included in the all-inclusive Festival Package (see page 3), or with the purchase of a Gala & Play combo ticket at $50.when you order your Chris Christophersen tickets. See the ticketing information at www.eugeneoneill.org to make your reservation. Michael Krasny Jasson Minadakis Joy Carlin 2 P.O. Box 402 Danville CA 94526-0402 ~ www.eugeneoneill.org ~ 925.820.1818 FALL 2013 3 P.O. Box 402 Danville CA 94526-0402 ~ www.eugeneoneill.org ~ 925.820.1818 FALL 2013 NEW BOARD MEMBERS Schedule of Festival Events The Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House is pleased to Mark your calendars now for all of the events planned for welcome two new members to the Foundation Board of the 14th Eugene O’Neill Festival Directors. Aug. 27 “A Peek at O’Neill vs. O’Neill,” with Susan McEvilly and Barbara Kuklewicz joined the Board in Eric Fraisher Hayes discussing the Festival June, and bring a wide range of talents to our endeavors. Plays. Danville Library, 7:00 p.m. (No Charge) A two decade resident of Danville and former alternate Planning Sept. 6-21 O’Neill’s Anna Christie presented by Role Commissioner, Susan McEvilly comes Players Ensemble, Directed by George from a family of educators. Her dad Maguire. Eight performances are offered: was a professor at UC Berkeley’s Evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Department of Earth and Planetary Tickets: www. roleplayersensemble.com or Science, and her sister is the principal Village Theatre ticket office, 223 Front of Tassajara Hills elementary school. Street, Danville. (925) 314-3466. Her two daughters were educated Susan McEvilly Sept. 12 Classic 1930 MGM film of Anna Christie with locally and are now in college. Greta Garbo, and Marie Dressler. Village Susan says she “loves Tao House” and has been attending Theatre, 7:00 p.m. productions in the Old Barn with her friends for several Tickets: $5.00 at the door or pre-purchase years. She often gets there by hiking the Madrone Trail www.roleplayersensemble.com in the Las Trampas hills. Having worked previously with Sept. 22 “Modern Audiences/Classic Plays” A Apple and Cisco, she’s currently CEO of Meet Me in the special director/playwright Panel discussion Cloud – a startup tech company partnered with Cisco. centering on the two Festival plays; Originally from Chicago, Barbara Moderated by KQED’s Michael Krasny. Kuklewicz has lived in the Tri-Valley Panelists include Jasson Minadakis (Marin area for nearly thirty years. The San Theatre Co.), Joy Carlin (Aurora Theatre), Ramon resident was an American Trevor Allen (Black Box Theatre) and Rob Melrose (Cutting Ball Theatre). In the Old history major at University of Illinois, Barn, Tao House at the Eugene O’Neill and earned an MBA at Keller National Historic Site, 2:00 p.m. Graduate School of Business. ($10 donation at the door or pre-purchase - Barbara brings a wealth of experience www.eugeneoneill.org. NPS shuttle 1:00 pm) as training manager for the Leadership Barbara Kuklewicz Sept. 27-30 O’Neill’s Chris Christophersen presented by Resources Group, with positions at Logitech, SanDisk Eugene O’Neill Foundation. Four and Charles Schwab. Now semi-retired, Barbara has been performances of this 1920 drama in the Old an adjunct professor in Golden Gate University’s MBA Barn at Tao House. Directed by Eric program for Human Resources. Her current passion – Fraisher Hayes. Evenings at 8:00 p.m. and besides history and the performing arts – is volunteering Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m. NPS shuttle for the English literacy program at the Pleasanton Library. from Museum of the San Ramon Valley. Welcome Aboard Tickets: www.eugeneoneill.org, Information Susan and Barbara! and reservations: (925) 820-1818 Sept. 27-28 Gala Champagne/Dessert and reception celebrating O’Neill’s 125th Birthday, in the Courtyard at Tao House.