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

INDEPENDENCE bring audiences to their feet, DESIRE takes the stage, MARVIN GARDENS jumps into character work, and AUDITIONS for our RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN fundraiser are right around the corner! This week at the Little Theatre!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre!

What a great weekend of performances at the Little Theatre. Independence enjoyed four standing ovations during the third week of its run- have you seen this remarkable production yet? There are only four more chances to see these four great actresses bring Lee Blessing's groundbreaking drama to life onstage. Check out the New Times review HERE. Check out the Tribune review HERE. Don't miss this powerful production- get your tickets for the final weekend by clicking HERE.

Ubu's Other Shoe (the staged reading series at the Little Theatre) is presenting Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms for two nights only: November 6 and 7 at 7:00 PM. Director Brent Keast has assembled a wonderful cast for this classic play. Learn more about the production and get your tickets by clicking HERE. Be sure to stay for the talkback with the director and cast after Wednesday's presentation.

A Hotel on Marvin Gardens, the fourth staged reading in Ubu's 10th anniversary season, has started rehearsals. Cynthia Anthony directs this hilarious comedy by Nagle Jackson (Taking Leave). Learn more about the play HERE. A Hotel on Marvin Gardens plays for two nights only: December 17 and 18 at 7:00 PM.

We're looking for some amazing singers and dancers to star in Some Enchanted Evening, our winter fundraiser. This tribute to the music and lyric of Rodgers and Hammerstein require a tight ensemble of 3 women and 2 men to bring these songs to life on our stage. See all of the audition details by clicking HERE.

Thank you, as always, for your support of our organization! Have a great week, everyone!

-Kevin

"This is more than a story about one dysfunctional family...the play asks questions about what we do to our children, what we owe our parents, how we move forward, and what we leave behind."

~ Joan Crowder, The Tribune

As we enter our third weekend, INDEPENDENCE continues to leave audiences speechless. Remember dramas? I know, sometimes they're tough to watch. I come home from work and I'm tired. I head for the TV and I don't immediately think about watching a heavy drama about dysfunctional families or a documentary about the war in Afghanistan. I want to laugh! I want to smile and be uplifted. It's the same with movies and even theatre sometimes. I love a good musical as much as the next theatre groupie. But you see, I forget sometimes how a well-written, beautifully-acted drama affects me. A well-thought out work of art speaks to me on a deeper level and can leave me feeling fulfilled and satisfied and well-fed in a way that a Will Ferrell comedy or an action adventure like Iron Man or even The Sound of Music (as much as I love it!) can't. 

If you haven't seen this show yet, please do. You won't be disappointed. Lee Blessing's insightful script, Suzy Newman's skillful direction and the acting of four amazing women will send you home feeling like you've seen the real thing: a great evening (or afternoon) of intimate, dynamic, live theatre. 

But don't just take my word for it. You can read Joan Crowder's review in the Tribune today right HERE and Anna Weltner's review in last week's New Times HERE.  And of course, you can get your tickets on our website HERE.

Speaking of great dramas, maybe you've heard of Eugene O'Neill?

Sparked by the dark hollows and brilliant imaginings of his subconscious, master American playwright 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. Next week, our Ubu's Other Shoe 10th Anniversary Season of staged readings continues with this classic family drama. I'll be there and I hope you will be too!

Wed. November 6th @ 7 pm

Thu. November 7th @ 7 pm
Please join us for a talk-back with the director 

and cast after Wednesday evening's performance.

Directed by Brent Keast
Featuring:

Tom Ammon, Graham Smith, Brooke Foster, Evan Camacho,
Clayton Greiman, Joy Brenner, Cathryn Cannavino, and Sharlotte Elston

CLICK HERE for more information and tickets. 

AUDITIONS - NOVEMBER 13th!

Now's your chance to sing some of the greatest music ever written - the songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein! This show has it all, music from such great shows as Carousel, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music and many more. We're looking for five dynamic performers and possibly a chorus as well.

WED. NOVEMBER 13th 

6 - 9:30 pm

CLICK HERE for more information

(And don't worry - tickets to the show will be available very soon!!)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

We're looking forward to a very happy holiday season here at the Little Theatre with a double-header of holiday treats!  The beloved classic MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET opens on November 22nd, filling our mainstage season slot Thursdays-Sundays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm. Then, on November 30th, we will be adding a very special late-night holiday show. THE SANTALAND DIARIES, a one-man-show based on a short story by David Sedaris and starring Kevin Harris, will take the stage on Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 pm. Rehearsals are in full swing now and we'll look forward to wishing you a very happy holiday with two great shows very soon!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Hope you all have a very safe and fun Halloween. Don't eat too much candy and we'll hope to see you downtown, right here at the Little Theatre, very soon. 

Cheers!

~Patty