Synopses & Reviews
"At the O'Neill, we were all engaged with full-hearted passion in sometimes the silliest of exercises, and all in service of finding that wiggly, elusive creature, a new play."and#151;Meryl Streep
"I would not be who or where I am today without the O'Neill."and#151;Michael Douglas
As the old ways of the commercial theater were dying and American playwriting was in crisis, the Eugene Oand#8217;Neill Theater Center arose as a midwife to new plays and musicals, introducing some of the most exciting talents of our time (including August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, and Christopher Durang) and developing works that went on to win Pulitzer Prizes and Tony Awards. Along the way, it collaborated with then-unknown performers (like Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Courtney Vance, and Angela Bassett) and inspired Robert Redford in his creation of the Sundance Institute. This is the story of a theatrical laboratory, a place that transformed American theater, film, and television.
Review
and#8220;A wonderful, over-sized book . . . that cmombines archival photos with excellent text.and#8221;and#8212;Joe Meyers, The Connecticut Post
Review
and#8220;The Oand#8217;Neill is famous among show folk, but [The Oand#8217;Neill] will give civilian theater buffs a chance to share the and#8216;Oand#8217;Neill experienceand#8217; vicariously.and#8221;and#8212;Ethan Mordden, The Wall Street Journal
Review
“This handsome tribute to the venerable Eugene O’Neill Theater Center combines Jeffrey Sweet’s knowledgeable text with a marvelous array of black-and-white photographs.”—The Washington Post Ethan Mordden - The Wall Street Journal
Review
andldquo;This handsome tribute to the venerable Eugene Oandrsquo;Neill Theater Center combines Jeffrey Sweetandrsquo;s knowledgeable text with a marvelous array of black-and-white photographs.andrdquo;andmdash;The Washington Post
Review
andldquo;Accompanied by fascinating archival photographs, this sweeping history of the countryandrsquo;s foremost new play laboratory is as striking as it is informative. Theatre buffs will marvel at the effect the Oandrsquo;Neill has had on American cultureandmdash;launching everyone from August Wilson to Meryl Streepandmdash;and the unlikely stories that led to its creation.andrdquo;andmdash;TDF Stages magazine
Synopsis
A lavishly illustrated celebration of the fifty-year history of the most influential theatrical organization in America, the Oand#8217;Neill Theater Center
Synopsis
A lavishly illustrated celebration of the fifty-year history of the most influential theatrical organization in America, the O'Neill Theater Center
"At the O'Neill, we were all engaged with full-hearted passion in sometimes the silliest of exercises, and all in service of finding that wiggly, elusive creature, a new play."--Meryl Streep
"I would not be who or where I am today without the O'Neill."--Michael Douglas
As the old ways of the commercial theater were dying and American playwriting was in crisis, the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center arose as a midwife to new plays and musicals, introducing some of the most exciting talents of our time (including August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, and Christopher Durang) and developing works that went on to win Pulitzer Prizes and Tony Awards. Along the way, it collaborated with then-unknown performers (like Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Courtney Vance, and Angela Bassett) and inspired Robert Redford in his creation of the Sundance Institute. This is the story of a theatrical laboratory, a place that transformed American theater, film, and television.
About the Author
Jeffrey Sweet isand#160;an award-winning playwright and theater historian whose previous books include Something Wonderful Right Away, a history of the famed Second City improvisational theater. He serves on the Council of the Dramatists Guild and is one of the most active participants in the Chicago theater renaissance.