 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
||||||||
Actress Cherry Jones Receives Tao House Award At Luncheon in Danville Describing it as a “fantastic” honor, actress Cherry Jones has become the eighth recipient of the prestigious Tao House Award presented to individuals who have “served the American theater with distinction.” Ms. Jones was given the award, first presented to actor Jason Robards Jr. 17 years ago, at a luncheon on November 16, 2006, in Danville, the home base of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House. The foundation presented the award in partnership with the National Park Service, which oversees the O’Neill Tao House estate, a National Historic Site. Standing before 30 guests who included foundation board members, local actors, producers and directors, the mayor of Danville, and a representative of the press, Ms. Jones said she was “haunted by the image of Eugene and Carlotta O’Neill in the gorgeous setting of Tao House.” “The thought that the house allowed him the serenity to do what he had to do – well, I am beside myself,” she said. “I thank you for preserving this landmark.”
Holding the heavy bronze award aloft, Ms. Jones recalled attending a party at which Robards, then showing the effects of the cancer which ultimately claimed his life, was also a guest. He recounted stories about his performance and his co-stars in O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten,“ for which he won a Tony Award in 1974. Ms. Jones, sitting at his feet, said she was enthralled with the stories, which ended with his apology for having missed her performance in 2000 in “Moon.” which earned her a Tony Award nomination. The reason? “ There are too many ghosts,” he explained. Following the luncheon, Ms. Jones visited the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative, dedicated by the foundation and park service in the fall of 2005, in Front Street Park in Danville. Then she was driven to Tao House for a tour led by ranger David Blackburn. The tour included a visit to the Old Barn and the gravesite of Blemie, O’Neill’s pet Dalmatian. She was presented a copy of the last will and testament that O’Neill wrote for Blemie.
Among those joining Ms. Jones on the tour were Claudia Nemir, foundation president, and Gary Schaub, who will assume the presidency in January. Following the tour, Ms. Jones departed for San Francisco for an evening performance in the highly acclaimed “Doubt,” for which she received the Tony Award. Accompanying her to Danville was Chris McGarry, who plays Father Flynn in “Doubt.” The San Francisco Chronicle recently described Ms. Jones as “the finest stage actress of her generation,” noting she is routinely placed in the same league as Broadway legends Helen Hayes, Julie Harris, and Colleen Dewhirst. Among her many honors, is a Tony Award received in 1995 for her performance in “The Heiress.” She was nominated for the same award for “Our Country’s Good.”
She has appeared on Broadway in “Faith Healer,” “Imaginary Friends,” “Major Barbara,” “ The Night of the Iguana,” “ Macbeth,” “Stepping Out” and “Angels in America." Off-Broadway and regional performances include “Flesh and Blood,” “Pride’s Crossing,” “The Baltimore Waltz,” “The Good Person of Setzuan” and 25 productions as a company member of the American Repertory Theatre. Her film appearances include "Ocean's Twelve," "Signs," "The Village," "The Perfect Storm," "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," "Cradle Will Rock" and "The Horse Whisperer." The Tao House Award was designed by William Carmel, a Danville artist and member of the board of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. In addition to Robards, past recipients of the award were Travis Bogard, UC professor and authority on O’Neill; Donald Gallup, curator of the American literature collection at Yale University; Arthur and Barbara Gelb, authors of books and a documentary on O’Neill, and Broadway producers Theodore Mann and Paul Libin.
Photos by Tom Donahoe |
