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Artist Days at Tao HouseThe Eugene O'Neill Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, announces its eleventh annual Artist Days at Tao House Artists may apply to reserve any or all of the dates for the 2009 program. They are: October 8, 9, 10, 2009 The fee is $5 per day and reservations are required. Since private vehicles are not allowed on the property, artists will assemble at 8:45 a.m. each day at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in Danville (205 Railroad Avenue). They will board a National Park Service van for the short trip to the site. The van will return to the parking lot at 2:45 p.m. For more information contact the Eugene O'Neill Foundation, Tao House (925.820.1818; taohouse@pacbell.net) 2008 Artists and Descriptions of PaintingsVisiting Artist ProgramThe first Visiting Artist at Tao House was Michael O’Neill, who visited from April 15-May 15, 2005. Dr. O’Neill is Director of Theater, Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. A prolific director, he has also written for The Theatre Journal, Renascence, and The Eugene O’Neill Review.A graduate of Fordham University, he received his PhD from Purdue University, where his dissertation was: The Evolution of Form in Contemporary Drama. He is currently writing a book on the Irish character that was created in Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, and its shadow on subsequent Irish drama, including the works of Bernard Shaw, Sean O’Casey, Eugene O’Neill, Brian Friel and Martin McDonagh. While at Tao House, O’Neill conducted research and writing, directed plays for the foundation’s Playwrights’ Theatre, and lectured at Rakestraw Books in Danville. His comments on his experience at Tao House are included in the September 2005 Eugene O’Neill Foundation newsletter. <back to top>
Help Your Organization Learn More About O’Neill – and the O’Neill FoundationAs part of its goal of perpetuating the life and works of Eugene O’Neill, the foundation helps spread the word through a corps of knowledgeable speakers. They’re available to speak to your organization or at informal gatherings. Their topics include the life and times of O’Neill and the activities and programs of the foundation in association with the National Park Service. Talks can be tailored to satisfy the interests and time limits of your organization. To schedule a speaker, contact us at (925) 820-1818 or via e-mail at taohouse@eugeneoneill.org. Past O'Neill Foundation EventsSince its founding, the foundation has sponsored special educational and artistic events. A West Coast Theater Directors Conference was held in preparation for the O’Neill Centennial celebrated in 1988. The conference brought together directors from Seattle to Los Angeles. Jose Quintero and Jason Robards participated. Other centennial activities included performances in Danville and culminated in a Birthday Party on October 16, 1988 in San Francisco. The party was a cooperative venture with the American Conservatory Theater and brought together scenes from several O’Neill plays. In 1994 the Foundation sponsored a three-day international conference, O’Neill on World Stages, focusing on the theatrical vitality of O’Neill’s writing. The conference had three components: the delivery of research papers; a performance by both a Russian and Chinese troupe of Long Day’s Journey into Night; and a visit to Tao House. The conference was organized in association with the National Park Service and St. Mary’s College. The Bay-Area O’Neill Scholars Consortium was formed in 1998 to bring O’Neill scholars together to sponsor seminars and conferences and review new books relating to O’Neill. O’Neill Seminars are held on an occasional basis. The first was offered in 1996, and two of the most successful were in October 2001, based on A Moon for the Misbegotten, and another as part of the 2004 O’Neill Festival. Special Ceremony Sept. 18, 2008
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![]() Festival goers enjoyed a walkin tour of Danville that began at the Eugene O'Neill Commemorative in Front Street Park. |
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THE TAO HOUSE AWARD
This award is
given to a person who, in the opinion of the board, has served the
American Theater with distinction. The recipient may be actively
involved in performance areas, including acting, directing, design
or producing and may also be a critic or scholar who has written
significantly about the theater in the United States. The first
Tao House Award was presented to Jason Robards Jr. on November 12,
1989. A longtime supporter of the foundation, Robards was instrumental
in the success of the foundation’s first benefit performance.
UC Professor
emeritus Travis Bogard, foundation artistic director, board, O’Neill
author, editor and scholar received the award in October 1993. At
the International Conference in June 1994, Dr. Donald Gallup became
the third recipient of the award. In his many years as curator of
the American Literature collection of the Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library at Yale University, Dr. Gallup made a “permanent
contribution to the American theater.”
Arthur and Barbara Gelb, authors of a biography of O’Neill,
received the fourth Tao House Award in April 1996.
In 1999 Producer Director Theodore Mann who has produced 16 plays and 2 recording of O’Neill works was presented with the award. This was followed in 2003 when Paul Libin, Broadway producer and collaborator with Mann, was honored, and in January, 2006, when the award was presented to Stephen Black, author and authority on O’Neill. A special presentation of the award was made in November 2006 to Cherry Jones, who is regarded as the finest stage actress of her generation.
Another award for 2006 was presented in January 2007 to Edward Hastings, a founding member of the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), the Tony Award winning regional theater company in San Francisco.
In 2008, the Tao House Award was presented posthumously to Paul Robeson.
THE OPEN GATE AWARD
This award honors those who have served as directors of the foundation
and whose dedication and service have enhanced the memory of Eugene
O’Neill.
It was first
presented in 1991 to Thalia Brewer, co-founder of the Eugene O’Neill
National Monument Association, which was organized to wage the campaign
that saved Tao House from destruction. The association eventually
became the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. In 1992 Darlene Blair
and Lois Sizoo. also founders of the association, were honored.
Subsequent honorees include Craig Dorman, 1993, Ruth Turner, 1995;
Frances Chumley, 1998; Linda Best, 2003; Virginia Denison, 2004;
Wendy Cooper, 2006.
THE ARTISTIC AWARD
The Artistic Award (The Genie) is given to individuals who have
been outstanding in their commitment to the Foundation’s mission
to provide artistic and educational programs, which focus on the
contribution of Eugene O’Neill to the American theater. Past
recipients are Kerri Shawn and Richard James (2003) ), well known
actors who have assisted the foundation in Student Days and other
foundation programs; and Michael Uppendal (2006), artistic director
of the Namaste Theatre Company based in Los Angeles. His company
performed O’Neill’s sea plays and “Hughie”
in the Old Barn at Tao House.
THE FREEMAN AWARD
This award is named for Herbert Freeman. He served as chauffeur
and “man of all work and friend. He is credited with helping
to make life more comfortable for the O’Neills at Tao House.
This award is presented to volunteers who have tirelessly given
their time and talents to the Eugene O’Neill Foundation.
Past recipients include Tony Cooper (2003), who has photographed
and videotaped foundation events and added content to the foundation’s
online research library; J.R.K. Kantor (2004), who worked on the
foundation library and served as a docent at Tao House; Glenn Fuller
(2005), former National Park Service superintendent with responsibilities
for Tao House; and Michael Cook (2006), for 30 years a Bay Area
theatrical designer, writer, actor and director, who also teaches
at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He has assisted with productions
at Tao House.
LOIS SIZOO ENDOWMENT FUND
In 2001 an endowment fund was established to honor the memory of
Lois Sizoo, founding member of the foundation. This fund is the
repository for all memorial gifts to the foundation. This fund will
support the work of new playwrights.
O’NEILL COMMEMORATIVE
IN DANVILLE
In 2004 the Board of Directors and the Town of Danville approved
the installation of an O’Neill Commemorative in Front Street
Park, Danville. This public art installation celebrates O’Neill’s
life in Danville and his plays, the last six of which were written
at Tao House, that earned him recognition as the playwright who
reshaped American theater. Formal unveiling and dedication of the
commemorative took place on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. View
an interactive tour of the commemorative...
