The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center announced today the 2020 summer season which will be held entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this new medium, the mission & values of the O’Neill ﹘ as the Launchpad of American Theater ﹘ remain vibrant and vital. The National Puppetry Conference, National Music Theater Conference , National Playwrights Conference , Cabaret & Performance Conference , National Critics Institute, and National Theater Institute all continue this summer, supporting over 230 exciting new artists, voices, and work. The O’Neill also celebrates that 16 free events in it’s 56th season will be available to artists, audiences, and supporters across the nation.Eugene O’Neill Theater Center announces 2020 Summer Season: Puppetry, Musicals, Plays, & Cabaret
“For the first time, the O’Neill’s summer season will unfold entirely online.” shares CEO/Producer Preston Whiteway . “For the safety of our staff, artists, students, and audiences we know that this is the best course of action for our 56th Season. I’m inspired by the innovation taking place within our institution as we move online together and the mission and values of the O’Neill ﹘ as the Launchpad of American theater ﹘ remain vibrant and vital. Each of our programs continue to support exciting new artists, voices, and work. This summer also marks my final one leading this special institution. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of the story here. The O’Neill’s future is bright.”
Along with this announcement of its 2020 Summer Season, the O’Neill also shares: “ National actions have continually dehumanized, abused, and ignored the lives of our fellow humans. Our neighbors, collaborators, students, family members, and friends are impacted daily by these acts of systemic racism, and the work of the Black Lives Matter Movement shines a vital light on these acts. As an institution, we must commit more of our resources to educate and engage our staff and audiences towards building anti-racist, inclusive, and empathetic spaces for all. Specific details of this plan are forthcoming and will be made public. We pledge to uphold our mission as the Launchpad of American Theater; to uplift artists of color and produce stories reflecting the entirety of human experience in American culture. We stand with artists grappling with the anguish, compassion, violence, and unrest occurring in daily life. We believe their experiences and voices are vital to the future of American theater.”
National Puppetry Conference
Pam Arciero, Artistic Director
The National Puppetry Conference welcomes artists from around the globe to explore the range and power of the puppet, with workshops in puppet and mechanism building, writing, performance, marionettes, and more. Sensitive to the financial constraints of the community, the O’Neill has created a lower-cost 2020 Conference, with scholarship support for all participants. For the past 30 years, the Conference has thrived with a rigorous and varied schedule, which is emulated in the imagined week of programming from June 8-12 . Artists leading Conference intensives this summer include: five-time Emmy Award-winner Tim McKeon (Writing for Puppets and People ) , Jim “Nappy” Napolitano (Cyber Shadow Puppets ) , Edwin Salas ( Making Political Puppet Art ), Jim Rose and Kurt Hunter (Marionette Construction ), Alice Gottschalk (Movement and Experimental Puppetry ), and Jean Marie Keevins (Participant Project: The Solo Show Challenge).
JOIN US! In celebration of the 30th Conference, we are thrilled to offer the public a chance to take part in our five-part master class series featuring world-renowned puppetry artists. Single tickets ($40) and 5-Class Passes ($125) are now on-sale. Each conversation will take place on Zoom from 2:00 - 3:00pm EST.
JOIN US! Puppets in the Pub presented by Blue Gene’s Pub and hosted by Tyler Bunch and
Jonathan Little. Experience a virtual take on the beloved Puppetry Open Mics. Free, and open to
the public, rsvp required.
Artistic Director Pam Arciero shares this about her 18th season: “The National Puppetry Conference has always been an evolving and growing forum. As we begin our 30th season, we are happily anticipating a new and exciting format. We are looking forward to seeing new and innovative works of
Puppetry take shape with us this summer. Join us online for international master classes and the beloved Pub open-mic nights!”
National Music Theater Conference
Alexander Gemignani , Artistic Director
Since its founding in 1978, the National Music Theater Conference has developed more than 128 new musicals, including early works of award-winning writers and composers such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, Michael R. Jackson, Kirsten Childs, Andrew Lippa, Tan Dun, Robert Lopez, Duncan Sheik, Adam Gwon, Steven Sater, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Maury Yeston, and Jeanine Tesori. Selected from 360 submissions, the following new musicals will receive direct monetary
and developmental support, mentorship, and - along with four additional writing teams also in the 2020 finalist round -maintain finalist eligibility to be considered for further development in the 2021 season:
Azul Otra Ves [Blue, Revisited]
Book by Melis Aker & Tatiana Pandiani
Music by Jancinta Clusellas
Lyrics by Jancinta Clusellas & Rubén Darío
Two Nights and Three Days
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Kim Jinhyoung & Marcus Perkins
JOIN US! NMTC Alumni Happy Hour , hosted by Alexander Gemignani provides an opportunity to reconnect with NMTC writing teams past and present. Free, and open to the public, rsvp required.
6/18/20 6pm - NMTC 2018 Reunion
Anna Jacobs & Michael R. Jackson ( Teeth )
Kate Kilbane & Dan Moses ( Eddie the Marvelous, Who Will Save the World )
Additional artists to be announced.
6/25/20 6pm - NMTC 2019 Reunion
Benjamin Velez & Aryanna Garber ( Borderline )
Ari Afsar & Lauren Gunderson ( Jeannette )
Hansol Jung & Brian Quijada ( Undesirables )
NMTC Artistic Director Alexander Gemignani shares this about his third season: “The two musicals
we’ve chosen serve as a beautiful reminder of how innovative and necessary the art form of music
theater can be. I am thrilled that the O’Neill will be supporting these pieces on their journey and cannot
wait to welcome these five visionary writers into the NMTC family.”
National Playwrights Conference
Wendy C. Goldberg , Artistic Director
Since 1964, NPC has developed more than 750 new plays, including early works of award-winning writers such as Lee Blessing, Adam Bock, Kia Corthron, Christopher Durang, John Guare, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Samuel D. Hunter, David Henry Hwang, David Lindsay-Abaire, Martyna Majok.
Dominique Morisseau, Lynn Nottage, Robert O’Hara, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Wendy Wasserstein, August Wilson, and Lanford Wilson. The O’Neill’s founding program will support four new works this summer season by a broad mix of new, mid-career, and established writers. Each play will receive direct monetary and developmental support. Additionally, designers Emily Auciello , Reza Behjat, Raquel Davis, Matt Hubbs, Anne Kennedy, Brian Lilienthal, Lawrence E. Moten III, M. Florian Staab will all contribute to the Dream Design process. The four selected plays were chosen from 1,546 received through the O’Neill’s open submissions process. The following new plays will and (along with 59 additional writing teams also in the 2020 finalist round) maintain finalist eligibility
to be considered for further development in the 2021 season:
Beacon by Kirstin Greenidge
Dramaturg Kristin Leahey
...but you could've held my hand by JuCoby Johnson
Director: Lileana Blain-Cruz
visiting hours by Arika Larson
Director: Robert O'Hara
Kidnapping Jane Doe by David Zheng
Director: Raelle Myrick Hodges
JOIN US! NPC Alumni Happy Hour , hosted by Wendy C. Goldberg provides an opportunity to
reconnect with prominent O’Neill writers and designers. Free, and open to the public, rsvp required.
7/7/20 6pm- NPC Alumni Happy Hour: Pulitzer Prize-winners
Quiara Alegría Hudes , David Henry Hwang , & Michael R. Jackson
7/14/20 6pm - NPC Alumni Happy Hour: Design Studio
Rachel Hauck , Arnulfo Maldonado , Lawrence E. Moten III
NPC Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg shares this about her 16th season: "There’s never been a more important moment to support artists and storytellers. I am excited to work with these four playwrights and our team of collaborators in a virtual development conference.”
