THE SECRET IS OUT: THE EUGENE O'NEILL THEATER CENTER ROCKS!

EUGENE O'NEILL NATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS THEATER CONFERENCE
                PHOTO BY VINCENT SCARANO

What good is a big secret if you can't share it with someone?  The big   summer secret in Connecticut is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in  Waterford.  Considering it has been around for a glorious 50 years, it's about  time the creativecat is let out of the bag. Founded in 1964, it is the official  workshop of new works and new artists.  Every summer it opens its lovely  campus in the rolling hills of Waterford for weeks of "incubating new babies"  for the American stage and, the most wonderful part, you are invited to  attend and be directly involved in theexciting birthing process.  June was devoted to an International Puppetry Conference and now July is  here to welcome a pair of new musicals for you to enjoy. The first is  THE WAR DEPTwith Libretto, Music, & Lyrics by Jim Bauer and Libretto,  Art, & Video Direction by Ruth Bauer, with  staged readings:  Wednesday,  July 2 at 8pm and Friday, July 4 at 7pm. The American Civil War has ended  and Private William T. Clarke finds himself working in a dark place to find  answers for himself and for a trio of others. Unfortunately, Clarke may  not be up for the challenge. The second musical offering is The White City with Words by Julia Gytri and  Music by Avi Amon, with staged readings: Saturday, July 5 at 8pm; Sunday,  July 6 at 3pm; Wednesday, July 9 at 8pm; Friday, July 11 at 3pm.      It's Chicago, 1893 and the World’s Columbian Exposition. Lucy, a sharp- shooter from Buffalo Bill's Wild West,  explores the Fair, and is thrilled by  the fast-paced world until she discovers that a serial killer of young girls  may be on the loose. Breaking the 2013 conference's records, the National Music Theater  Conference received over 200 submissions for 2014. Under the leadership of  conference Artistic Director Paulette Haupt, each selected work will undergo  the O'Neill's signature development process, employing acclaimed professional  actors, dramaturgs, directors, and music directors. Six new plays will highlight the National Playwrights Conference this summer,  under the direction of Wendy Goldberg. The selections include: Tiger Style! By Mike Lew, about a brother and sister who shake up their  unsuccessful lives by going on a tour of Asia, with staged readings that took  place on July 2 & 3, featuring  MaryAnn Hu, Jennifer Ikeda, Francis Jue,   Jason Liebman, and Eugene Young. I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard by Halley Feiffer,  about the tempestous  relationship of an actress daughter with her most critical fan, her father,with   staged readings July 4 at 7:15 pm & July 5 at 8:15 pm , featuring Reed Birney  and Betty Gilpin. Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino, about a woman who returns  from war traumatized to find her home life in shreds of despair, with   staged readings July 9 at 8:15 pm & July 10 at 8:15 pm, featuring Cassie Beck,  Rebecca Henderson, Jedidiah Schultz, Chris Sullivan, and Sally Wingert. The Imaginary Music Critic Who Doesn’t Exist by David Mitchell Robinson, about a well-respected music site on the internet that ventures out of control, with   staged readings July 12  at 8:15 p.m. & July 13 at 7:15 p.m., featuring  Eva Kaminsky, Ronete Levinson,  Terrell Donnell Sledge, and Michelle Wilson. A Power Play; Or, What’s-its-Name by A. Rey Pamatmat, about a politician  who risks everything, including supernatural powers, to win, with staged  readings July 16 at 8:15 pm & July 17 at 8:15 pm, featuring Teresa Avia,   Scott Drummond, Morgan Everitt, Naomi Lorrain,   Johnny McKeown, Brian McManamon, Alfredo Narcisco,   Jon Norman Schneider,  Makela Spielman,and DeWanda Wise. Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield, about moments of love over a quarter  of a century, with  staged readings July 18 at 7:15 pm & July 19 at 8:15 pm,  featuring Eisa Davis and  Sue Jean Kim. Schedule is subject to change. All performances are at the Eugene O’Neill  Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford, CT 06385. Tickets for the  National Playwrights Conference may be purchased online  at www.theoneill.org or through the O’Neill Box Office at (860) 443-1238  at $28 each. As if that weren't enough, the Eugene O'Neil hosts a Cabaret Conference each  summer and this year is no exception. Artistic Director John McDaniel announced headliners for the ten-day conference that begins July 23 with nightly performances. The Grand Finale ends the O’Neill  summer season on August 2. The conference brings some of the biggest names in Cabaret Theater to perform  at the O’Neill each summer, providing valuable development and performance  training for select Cabaret Fellows – up-and-coming performers on the cabaret  scene. Says McDaniel, “This year’s conference is all about putting cabaret into  perspective. Looking Back. Looking Ahead. I couldn’t be  happier to welcome these amazing talents to our little cabaret in the woods for my  second season at the O’Neill.” The offerings include: Cabaret Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 pm,  free and open to the public. Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch will hold court on July 24 at 8 pm with their  professional act of humor and musicianship, straight from New York City. Mimi Hines – July 25 at 8 pm Best known for replacing Barbra Streisand on Broadway in Funny Girl, and  running the show on her own steam for 18 months, Mimi also starred coast  to coast in I Do! I Do!,  Sugar Babies, Hello, Dolly!, Nunsense, Pippin,  Anything Goes,  The Full Monty, and many more. This show business  legend is widely known to television audiences for her appearances on  "The Jack Paar Show" and  "The Ed Sullivan Show," dating back to 1958! Susie Mosher and the New Faces of 2014 – July 26 at 8 pm Known throughout New York for her ability to find and showcase the best  new talent, Susie will bring a fabulous lineup of new faces to the O’Neill  stage for this special night.  “Susan Mosher  is one of those talents you need to see to believe; on second  thought, let's just say you need to see her, and stop there." - Adam Feldman,   TimeOut NY. The Man in the Long Black Coat: Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan – July 27  at 8 pm.  Back by popular demand, this amazing, unique talent from the UK  is sure to bring down the house! Tracy Stark, Conference music director and a  frequent collaborator of Barb’s, will be at the piano.  "An exhilarating and revelatory evening, in which Dylan's songs are  ravishingly illuminated,revealing heretofore unheard joys and sorrows. I came  away in a trance, which lasted until the following week when I returned and   my mind was blown even further. The best show in New York hands down,  in forever." - Jon Robin Baitz Betty Buckley – August 1at 8 pm An evening with “The Voice of Broadway.” A Tony Award winning actress and  singer whose career spans theater, film, television and concert halls around  the world, Buckley is one of theater’s most respected and legendary leading  ladies. She makes her debut at the O’Neill this summer. Conference Fellows & Junior Fellows hone their presentational skills, learning the  artof stage performance and training under the guidance of Conference special  guests and  headliners and they will perform on July 30 and 31 at 8 pm.   The Cabaret's Grand Finale will take place at 8 pm on Saturday, August 1 . Barb Jungr will serve as Master Teacher  for the 2014 Cabaret Fellows.Tickets for the Cabaret performances  range from $35 to $220.  Call the O'Neill at 860-443-1238 or online  at  www.theoneill.org. Don't keep this secret.  Shout it to the world at large and Connecticut   audiences inparticular. If you've never taken a ride up I-95 to exit 75,  you are missing a great entertainment treat. Come and enjoy all that  the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has to offer.   It's the 50th Anniversary but you don't need to bring a present... .just yourself.