Eugene O'Neill's DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS - 90 Years of History

2009 Broadway production with Brian Dennehy

"Eugene O'Neill conceived DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS as he slept one night, resulting in a work with the powerful emotional pitch of a fever dream."

That's the text we've been using on our website to promote the staged reading of this play, but you're really going to have to see it to truly understand that "emotional fever pitch" part. It's a masterpiece. I can remember studying the play in both high school and college. It's intense, wrenching and totally absorbing -- and absolutely worth the ride.

It was first produced in 1924, that's almost 90 years ago. The set was designed by the legendary Robert Edmond Jones. Check out this photo of the set design below.

 

You can read a New York Times review of the production from November 12, 1924 right HERE and there's a review of the 2009 Brian Dennehy version HERE. (Spoiler alert: the 1924 review gives away a bit more about the ending than some may want to know.)

And then of course there's the playwright himself:
 Eugene O'Neill. 

Artistic Director Michael Siebrass has titled this season of Ubu's Other Shoe "American Playbill: O'Neill to Letts." Tonight and tomorrow night is the O'Neill part. Don't miss it. It's truly the beginning of American theatre as we know it today. 

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS

by Eugene ONeill

Wednesday, November 6th @ 7 pm
Thursday, November 7th @ 7 pm
Join us for a talk-back with the cast and director after Wednesday's performance

Directed by Brent Keast

Featuring: Tom Ammon, Graham Smith, Brooke Foster, Todd Andoli, Clayton Greiman, Joy Brenner, Cathryn Cannavino, Jim Thurman, and Sharlotte Elston

Tickets available ONLINE or at the door

$10 Regular / $7 Seniors & Students
(What a deal!)

And just for fun, check out the trailer for the 1958 film version starring Sophia Loren and Anthony Perkins. 

When you come tonight, you'll enjoy just how much better the live theatre version (even if it's just a reading!) can be. 

Hope to see you there!

~Patty