THE O'NEILL STUDIO FOR PLAYWRIGHTS AND ACTORS

Since our founding over 20 years ago at Yale University, The O’Neill Studio has responded to the needs of young actors and playwrights by creating opportunities for them onstage and off.

Soon after, preeminent director of O’Neill  Jose Quintero, set the ball rolling in NYC by launching the Playwrights Theater Forum for playwrights and actors in which O'Neill's major works are read and discussed. NY TIMES COVERAGE: CLICK HERE

WORK WITH PLAYWRIGHTS

Prolific playwright A.R. Gurney (Love Letters, Sylvia) christened our work with writers by giving master classes on new plays inspired by O’Neill in NYC.

Playwrights Theater artistic director Stephen Kennedy Murphy further developed this approach with Mr. Gurney at Yale University under the banner of "O'Neill at Yale" through The American Literature Collection at Beinecke Library under Chair Patricia Willis.

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Related events featured appearances by Oscar and Tony Award honorees Ruby Dee, Paul Newman, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson and Sigourney Weaver.

WORK WITH ACTORS

Drawing on his studying with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse, Murphy later founded the Meisner-based Independent Artist Track at The Playhouse which soon became a resident project of The Players Club.

The Independent Artist Track

The "IA Track" is a one-on-one training that includes work on a contemporary monologue (for flexibility) a classical one (for depth) and then an O’Neill monologue (which requires both depth and fluidity of the actor). The monologues are shot as media to mark the actor's progress.

Along the Track the "IA" is encouraged to write a monologue inspired by their O’Neill work as per Playwright Theater's mission “to explore the life and plays of Eugene O’Neill to help develop new work.” Some of these monologues have been developed into solo shows and were later produced.

Meisner Track

The O'Neill Studio's Meisner Track debuted soon after. The Track followed the steps of Mr. Meisner's technique as Murphy learned it from him, but as applied to classical and contemporary scenes in preparation for work on a scene from O’Neill. Notable alumna include Lucille Lortel Award winner Tracee Chimo (Orange is the New Black).

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For more information email studio@eugeneoneill.net.