One Festival, Two Countries

The Danville festival will feature three plays – Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Glass Menagerie and The Second Girl – an Irish music concert, a guided hike to Tao House, a historic guided walk of O’Neill’s Danville and an O’Neill exhibit at the Danville library.

All of us wrestle with our demons. The choices we’ve made or the people we’ve hurt or who have hurt us follow us throughout our lives. Often these painful episodes involve those closest to us. A great writer is one who finds a way to tell the story of these struggles in such a way that we can recognize that the writer’s story is in part our story. At the heart of this year’s Eugene O’Neill Festival will be the soul-stirring artistic confessions of two of our greatest haunted poets: Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams. The festival will feature productions of O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night at Tao House and Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at the Village Theatre in downtown Danville.  These plays are powerful and poetic demonstrations of how, for these playwrights, the ghosts of the past continued to haunt the imagination.

TICKETS FOR ALL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES HERE

or call (925) 314-3400

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FESTIVAL SPONSOR? CHECK OUT THE BENEFITS (COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS AND RECOGNITION IN OUR PUBLICATIONS) HERE

Festival Previews

Rakestraw Books event Aug. 8, 7:00 pm 

The Story behind Eugene O’Neill’s Tao House (and the Making of America’s Greatest Play)

Hear about the plays and watch a scene from Long Day’s Journey into Night:

Lafayette Public Library Aug. 13, 7:00 pm

Mechanics’ Institute Aug. 15, 6:30 pm

Danville Public Library Aug. 19, 7:00 pm

The Glass Menagerie 

by Tennessee Williams

Role Players Ensemble, directed by Chloe Bronzan

Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville, CA

Performances: August 30 – September 15

Tickets HERE

The Wingfield family lives in the shadow of the husband and father who left them to fend for themselves. Struggling to get by, mother Amanda lives in her southern belle past, son Tom lives for the day he can escape the bonds of a dead-end life, and daughter Laura lives in the comfort of her menagerie of little glass figurines that help her shut out the world. Into this little Wingfield world walks a young man who upsets everything. The Glass Menagerie was Tennessee Williams’ first great success.

Long Day’s Journey Into Night  by Eugene O’Neill

Directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes

The Old Barn, Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, Danville

Performances: September 14 – 29

Tickets HERE

Sept. 19 and 21 are SOLD OUT! Don’t wait to purchase your tickets!

A son’s looming health diagnosis and a mother’s drug addiction hang over the Tyrone family. Sparks fly as, one by one, members of the family bring painful revelations to light. The four wounded Tyrones must confront the powerful and contradictory feelings they have for each other. Loyalty and love are put to the test in this tale of survival. Long Day’s Journey Into Night is considered by many to be the greatest American tragedy ever written. Touring Tao House and then seeing the play that put Tao House on the map promises to be a magical experience.

The Second Girl  by Ronan Noone

Directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Danville

Performances: Aug. 24, 8 pm and Aug. 25, 2 pm and 7 pm (student discount tickets available for $15 at the matinee performance!)

Tickets HERE

For those who love Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs, The Second Girl is not to be missed. Set in the kitchen of the Tyrone family on the same day in 1912 that Long Day’s Journey Into Night takes place, The Second Girl tells the story of the hopes and dreams and the challenges of the Tyrone family’s hired help. Their tale touches on the plight of all immigrants trying to make their way in a new world.

A Conversation with Irish Playwright Ronan Noone

August 24 at 6pm

Join us for a special opening-night reception with The Second Girl playwright Ronan Noone. Now based in Boston, Noone, the author of nearly a dozen plays, will be discussing The Second Girl, his creative process and the plight of Irish immigrants. Beverages and bites will be provided.

Tickets: $25

Picnic Meals  prior to all shows of Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Patrons of  Long Day’s Journey Into Night are invited to join us for a Picnic at Tao House before either matinee or evening performances. A special NPS shuttle picks up picnic guests early at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley – at 12:00 pm before 2:00 matinees and 5:30 pm before 7:30 evening performances. There may also be time to tour Tao House before the play. You must purchase a show ticket in addition to this picnic ticket; both can be purchased at villagetheatreshows.com HERE

Two choices are offered for the picnics, provided by Sideboard of Danville.

Choice #1 Chicken salad sandwich with house-made potato chips
Choice #2 Sideboard salad with bread

Both include a cookie, a bottle of water and a glass of wine

Picnic sales will close one week prior to each performance. For example, for the show on the 29th, picnics must be ordered by Sept. 22. Order picnics HERE

Cost: $25

O’Neill’s S.S. Glencairn trilogy of sea plays, performed aboard the 1886 square-rigger Balclutha, San Francisco Maritime National Park, in an Irish production, directed by Paul Walsh, Aug. 30–Sept. 1 (Left: Square-rigger “Balclutha”, SF Maritime Natl Historic Park)

Visit maritime.org for more info

Soprano Clodagh Kinsella, with Pianist Keith Stears

Concert: Irish Airs and Arias 

Irish soprano Clodagh Kinsella and pianist Keith Stears bring their unique interpretations to Irish airs and to opera arias. This new-generation duo interweave their heritage and their classical training to pay homage to the old traditions in a new and exciting way. Clodagh electrified audiences at last year’s Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre in New Ross, Ireland, with her rendition of “Shenandoah” during the play Mourning Becomes Electra. She has appeared in many operatic roles and in concerts from Budapest to New York. Keith, winner of numerous competitions, performs regularly in Europe and America.

Village Theatre, Danville. Performance: Sept. 5, 8:00 pm

Cost: $25      Sponsored by Chevron

Tickets HERE

TICKETS FOR ALL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES HERE or call (925) 314-3400

Other Festival Events in Danville:

A HIKE TO TAO HOUSE AND A DANVILLE HISTORY WALK

HILLS OF SOLACE: ANNUAL HIKE TO TAO HOUSE

A free 3.1-mile hike guided hike from downtown Danville to the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, led by National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District rangers. Across the street from the Danville Public Library is Front Street Park, which commemorates Eugene O’Neill and the plays he wrote at Tao House. This is also the starting point for the Secrets of O’Neill’s Danville history walk.

Sunday, Sept. 8 at  9:00 am                             Cost: Free

Registration highly recommended:

HISTORY WALK: THE SECRETS OF O’NEILL’S DANVILLE

Join Beverly Lane, past president of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, for a walking tour, starting at Front Street Park in downtown Danville. Across the street from the Danville Public Library is Front Street Park, which commemorates Eugene O’Neill and the plays he wrote at Tao House. This is also the starting point for the Festival’s Hike to Tao House.

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2:00 pm                         Cost: Free

No registration needed.

EXPLORING DOWNTOWN DANVILLE

While you are in Danville for the Festival events, check out the bounty of fine restaurants, bakeries, pizzerias, and breweries and look for California cuisine featuring local produce.  And explore the many interesting and unique shops.

At the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (on Railroad Avenue, where you catch the National Park Service’s shuttle to the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site) you will find a fascinating exhibits.

Across the street from the library is Front Street Park, which commemorates Eugene O’Neill and the plays he wrote at Tao House. This is also the starting point for the Festival’s Hike to Tao House and for the Secrets of O’Neill’s Danville history walk.

DESTINATION DANVILLE PASSBOOK

Destination: Historic Downtown Danville

Sept. 1-Oct.16

In conjunction with the 20th Annual Eugene O’Neill Festival

In between festival events, theatre-goers, music lovers, and hikers will find several fine restaurants and casual bistros. From a taste of local harvest to a sip of Iceman Cometh bold brew, the artisanal eateries of Danville will delight your palate with its wide variety of dining experiences.

The Eugene O’Neill Foundation will offer a complimentary Destination Danville book of shopping and dining discounts and specials during the Festival. The book also includes a #livelocallyDanville raffle opportunity, historic Danville highlights, and O’Neill quotes to entertain you throughout the Festival season.

With the passbook’s many coupons and discounts, you can shop, dine, and explore throughout September. This is part of Danville’s Live Locally program but is also open to out-of-towners. Over 40 Destination Shop-Dine-Play highlights!

COMING SOON:  Pick up your complimentary guidebook at Cottage Jewel Antiques (100 W Prospect Ave, Danville),  the Museum of the San Ramon Valley or the Danville Public Library.

CLICK HERE FOR A DOWNLOADABLE LISTING OF ALL OUR FESTIVAL EVENTS

TICKETS FOR ALL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES HERE

or call (925) 314-3400

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FESTIVAL SPONSOR? CHECK OUT THE BENEFITS HERE

DOWNLOAD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ERIC FRAISHER HAYES’ 2018 FESTIVAL ARTICLE HERE AND READ AN INTERVIEW HERE

The 2nd Annual Eugene O’Neill International Festival of Theatre in New Ross

Oct. 9 – 13, with Extended Tour Package Oct 14 – 20

Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill, St. Michael’s Theatre, directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, Artistic Director, Eugene O’Neill Foundation, St. Michael’s Theatre, Oct 10

O’Neill’s S.S. Glencairn trilogy of sea plays, performed aboard the Dunbrody famine ship, directed by Paul Walsh, Oct. 11

Strange Interlude, by Eugene O’Neill, staged reading in two parts with dinner interval, directed by Ben Barnes, Former Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, St. Michael’s Theatre, Oct 12

The Diary of Maynard Perdu, written and directed by Billy Roche, best known for the Wexford Trilogy, St. Michael’s Theatre, Oct. 13

Daytime tours during the Festival:  Viking Waterford, Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford, Dunbrody famine ship, Ross tapestry, Kennedy Homestead and JFK Arboretum

Festival and Day Tours Oct. 9–13

Extended Tour After Festival Oct. 14–20

Download our International Festival of Theatre flier HERE 

The New Ross Festival Package

The Festival Tour Package, including dinner, bed, and breakfast for 5 nights at Brandon House, as well as admission to all Festival events, but not including airfare, is $1,000 double occupancy.

Daytime tours during the Festival: Viking Waterford, Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford, Dunbrody famine ship, Ross tapestry, Kennedy Homestead and JFK Arboretum.

The Extended Tour Package

The Festival and Extended Tour Package for 11 nights, not including airfare, is $2,600 double occupancy.

The tour includes Newgrange World Heritage Site, Titanic Exhibit, Belfast City, Giants Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bushmills Distillery, Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and ending with two days in Dublin.

For further information, see info@eugeneoneillfestival.com or contact Sean Reidy, Chair of the O’Neill Ancestral Trust, seanreidyirl@gmail.com

Make your reservations at www.eugeneoneillfestival.com