kids encyclopedia robot

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the theater in Waterford, Connecticut. For the theater in Manhattan, New York, see Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
Quick facts for kids
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
EOTC HammondMansion.jpg
The Hammond Mansion, "Ironsides", in 2017
Address 305 Great Neck Road
Waterford, Connecticut
United States
Type Regional Theater
Opened 1964
Website
Walnut Grove
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is located in Connecticut
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Location in Connecticut
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is located in the United States
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
Location in the United States
Area 40 acres (16 ha)
Built 1822
Architectural style Federal, Gothic Revival, et al.
NRHP reference No. 05001044
Added to NRHP September 21, 2005

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is a special place for theater in Waterford, Connecticut. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to support its goals, not to make a profit for owners. George C. White started it in 1964. People often call it "The O'Neill."

This center has won two Tony Awards, which are like the Oscars for theater. It received a Special Award in 1979 and the Regional Theatre Award in 2010. In 2016, President Obama gave The O'Neill the National Medal of Arts. This award celebrates its big impact on American theater.

The O'Neill is a very important place for developing new plays and musicals. It was one of the first places to use "stage readings." This is when actors read a new play aloud to help writers improve it. The center is also home to the National Theater Institute. This is a special program for college students who want to study theater.

The O'Neill hosts several major theater conferences. These include the National Playwrights Conference, which started in 1964. There's also the National Musical Theater Conference for new musicals. Other conferences focus on critics, puppetry, and cabaret performances.

The O'Neill also owns and takes care of the Monte Cristo Cottage. This was the childhood home of famous playwright Eugene O'Neill. It's now a museum. The center's campus is beautiful, looking out over Long Island Sound. It has four places where shows can happen, two indoors and two outdoors.

The land where The O'Neill is located is also known as Walnut Grove. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This was because of its interesting buildings and its history. A wealthy railroad owner named Edward Crowninshield Hammond once owned the land. He often made young Eugene O'Neill leave the property.

Plays and Musicals Developed at The O'Neill

Many successful plays and musicals started at The O'Neill. Here are some of them:

National Playwrights Conference Works

  • I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard – Halley Feiffer (2014)
  • The Nether – Jennifer Haley (2011), won a special prize in 2012
  • The Receptionist – Adam Bock (2006)
  • Fuddy Meers – David Lindsay-Abaire (1998)
  • Trueblinka – Adam Rapp (1997)
  • Seven Guitars – August Wilson (1994)
  • The Piano Lesson – August Wilson (1986)
  • Joe Turner's Come and Gone – August Wilson (1984)
  • Fences – August Wilson (1983)
  • Danny and the Deep Blue Sea – John Patrick Shanley (1982)
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom – August Wilson (1982)
  • Agnes of God – John Pielmeier (1979)
  • FOB – David Henry Hwang (1979)
  • Bent – Martin Sherman (1978)
  • Uncommon Women and Others – Wendy Wasserstein (1977)
  • A History of the American Film – Christopher Durang (1976)
  • Madmen and Specialists – Wole Soyinka (1970)
  • House of Blue Leaves – John Guare (1966)

National Musical Theater Conference Works

Cabaret & Performance Conference Works

  • The Story of My Life (2006)
  • title of show (2005)

National Critics Conference Works

  • Chelsea on the Edge: The Adventures of an American Theater – Davi Napoleon

Famous People Who Attended The O'Neill

Many actors, writers, and other theater professionals have spent time at The O'Neill.

National Theater Institute Alumni

Conference Playwrights

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.