10th International Conference, Galway, Ireland Fall 2017-Spring 2018 SOCIETY BOARD PRESIDENT July 19-22 Robert M. Dowling Central Connecticut State University 2017 VICE PRESIDENT Katie Johnson Miami University of Ohio SECRETARY/TREASURER Beth Wynstra Babson College INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY — ASIA: Shiyan Xu Nanjing Normal University INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY — EUROPE: Thierry Dubost The First Lady and President of Ireland (center) University de Caen Basse-Normandie with winners of Eugene O’Neill Medallions, p. 27 GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR: Steven Bloom Lasell College, MA Declan Kiberd Special Jackson R. Bryer Keynote Speaker, p. 18 University of Maryland Double Issue! Kurt Eisen Tennessee Tech University O’Neillians at the Conference, pp. 13-30 Eileen Herrmann Miller Dominican University of California Sheila Hickey Garvey Southern Connecticut State University Jeff Kennedy Arizona State University Daniel Larner Western Washington University Patrick Midgley Texas Tech University Anne G. Morgan Eugene O’Neill Theater Center David Palmer COURTESY PHOTO Massachusetts Maritime Academy Robert Richter Connecticut College What’s Inside Ryder Thornton Tulane University New leaders, Presidents’ Messages . 2-6 Conferences, CFPs . 31-33 EX OFFICIO Member News. .7-12 In Memoriam . 34-36 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT J. Chris Westgate The Eugene O’Neill Review . ....7-8 O’Neill on stage: Monte Cristo . .37 California State University, Fullerton Publications & presentations . .8-10 EON Foundation, Tao House . .38-40 Board news . 11 NEWSLETTER EDITOR New international program . 38-39 Jo Morello Member benefits . 12 Foundation festival . ..39 Jo Morello, Inc., Public Relations 10th International Conference . 13-30 Carey Perloff Fellowship . 40 Day by day. .14-17 Contributors . 41-42 Keynote address, reception. 18-19 Help Wanted . .. .42 Reading, The Second Girl. .20-21 Medallion Winners . .43 Medallion banquet. .22-28 Contact Information………………….43 Galway. 29-30 Member News: Hail and farewell! Society leadership changed on January 1 J. Chris Westgate completes term as president of the Society; Robert M. Dowling steps up, Steve Bloom is re-elected to chair By Jo Morello January 1 marked a big transition for the Eugene O’Neill International Society—a transfer of power, if you will. On that date, as J. Chris Westgate completed his term as president, vice president Robert M. Dowling stepped up to fill Chris’s big shoes. Other transitions hap- pened as well, as detailed in the report on our board meeting (page 11). One thing has not changed: Steven Bloom was handily re-elected to chair the Society’s governing board, a posi- tion he’s held since 2011. The continuity and orderly succession of officers and board mem- bers ensure a steady course for the Society as it sails through the changing tides we all face. In his president’s message, Chris reflects on his just-completed term and especially its crowning achievement, the 10th International Eugene O’Neill Society conference in Galway this past July. As he turns over command to Rob, he looks to the future. Steven Bloom, board chair Rob first reflects on his years as vice president then lays out his plans for the Society’s fu- ture. On December 22 he emailed his first official message as president to members. Since you have presumably received it— and since there’s some overlap with articles in this issue—we will publish excerpts rather than the full message. On a personal note, I’ve enjoyed working with Chris and will miss him. I’ve also worked with Rob and Beth and look forward to continuing. My dealings with Society members has always been collegial, respectful, interesting—and sometimes even fun! A farewell message from J. Chris Westgate, president through 2017 Dear O’Neillians, Society. And I know that the Society is in good hands next year with Rob as It’s hard to believe that my time as president and Katie Johnson as vice President of the Society has come to president. They are joined by our new an end. It has been an honor to just board members, Sheila Hickey Garvey, be part of the O’Neill Society since Patrick Midgley, and Ryder Thornton. 2007, where I began to meet so many Welcome to Patrick and Ryder! Wel- of you who I now consider friends and come back to Sheila! colleagues; it has been a greater honor to have had the opportunity to serve If I can speak for the Society one more as president of the Society. I have to time, I’m sure that we would extend admit that I was surprised how moved our immense gratitude to co-chairs I was when Beth presented me with Nelson Ritschel, Audrey McNamara, the Society’s gift in Galway. My thanks exceptionally assisted by David Palmer, to you all. for their tireless work to make our Tenth International Eugene O’Neill For now, let me offer more specific with on the executive committee. We Conference such a smashing success. thanks, beginning with Beth, Steve, and are well represented by these people Rob, who have been amazing to work who give so much of their time to the (Continued on page 3) Eugene O’Neill Society Page 2 Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Member News: Hail and farewell! Presidents’ messages (continued) Galway conference: ‘an especially amazing experience’ (Continued from page 2) which is wonderful! But we still need I’ve now attended four O’Neill Con- all of our members to be in good ferences, and all (Tao House, New standing. If you haven’t renewed yet, York City, New London, and Galway) I encourage you to do so soon. As have been wonderful events. But Gal- always, you can renew online at the way seemed an especially amazing ex- Society website. perience: to have President Higgins speak with such thoughtfulness; to With all that’s recounted above, we have First Lady Sabina Higgins perform have had even more to look forward a scene from A Touch of the Poet; to to in the New Year, beginning with award the newly designed Eugene our MLA Conference session. It was O’Neill Medallion to Gabriel Byrne, held from January 4-7 in New York Jessica Lange, Dave King, Rob with Christopher Loar of the Neo- Dowling, and Steve Bloom; to hear Futurists, who have done such in- Chris Westgate is master of ceremonies at some wonderful talks; and to share triguing experimentation with the Society’s 10th International Conference meals and drinks with so many of you. O’Neill’s plays. Banquet. As a side note, I’ve yet to “Unsubscribe” from the email list for As hard as it is to believe, we already Long Day's Journey Into Night with Jer- Jury’s Inn because I like the occasional have begun some planning for the 11th emy Irons currently running in London reminder of our time there. International Conference, which we and transferring to Brooklyn Academy will be discussing at upcoming confer- of Music from May 8--27. Let me ask you one last time to con- ences and meetings—and if that were sider renewing your Society member- not enough, we have the 14-week As ever, ship for next year. We’ve had a great Broadway revival of The Iceman year for membership, with our num- Cometh with Denzel Washington, with Chris bers up from the previous year— previews beginning on March 22, and a Greetings, O’Neillians! Let the Peter Principle begin! By Robert M. Dowling I would next like to thank you all for entrusting me with this long-honored I write to you still enveloped with the position, especially Katie Johnson for holiday spirit to carry out my first duty agreeing to be vice president (which as president of the Society—let the automatically makes her president in Peter Principle begin! three years). Many outstanding accom- plishments have been made over the Not being one for burying a lead, I’d past few years by our members, but like to open by beseeching those of my deepest gratitude to a few notables you who haven’t yet renewed your among you: First, to our immediate annual memberships to do so HERE. past president J. Chris Westgate, who As committed O’Neillians, I also hope has been a model of easygoing compe- you might choose to replenish our tence throughout his term. Great coffers with a lifetime membership. work, my friend! Beth Wynstra, the Robert M. Dowling (Continued on page 4) Eugene O’Neill Society Page 3 Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Member News: Hail and farewell! President’s message (continued) Rob Dowling presents grateful look back, optimistic look ahead (Continued from page 3) true leader of our tribe, has kept the organization’s en- gines well-oiled and opera- tive. Her contributions to the Society are nothing less than exemplary, as are those of our Chairman of the Board Steve Bloom. Pictured: Two of the Eugene O’Neill Society’s three me- I’d also like to thank Jeff dia. Above, the website home page shows O’Neill Medal- Kennedy for doing such an lion winners Gabriel Byrne and Jessica Lange in Long exemplary job revamping Day’s Journey Into Night; at right, covers of the most our website. If you haven’t recent issues of the Society’s Newsletter. Coverage of yet taken a look, I recom- The Eugene O’Neill Review appears on pages 7-8. mend you do so (after you’ve renewed). Jo Morello has performed thank her enough for so capably another stupendous feat of know-how stepping up in our publication’s with the Eugene O’Neill Newsletter. time of need. Beth emailed my lengthy letter of Publications (pp. 9-10) greetings to members in mid- Along with the groundbreaking December.