The Genius of O'Neill

"When you're 50 you start thinking about things you haven't thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity - but actually it's about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.” This O'Neill quote blends the personal and professional for me as we approach his "Moon" on April 29th. The words of O'Neill tend to stick to you...travel deep inside and grow roots. He speaks for anyone who has now passed the half century mark...the words written as he passed it himself. And....for those of you who are years or decades away from it.....lock this quote away for a future birthday....far down the "foggy" road. We are so proud to bring O'Neill's work to Waterfront South and hope you will take the journey he has laid out for us.....with us. This is our 2nd trip with him as we brought you "Hughie" a few years back. SCTC will celebrate America's two greatest playwrights from now until this time next year....O"Neill this season and Tennessee Williams next. Tickets have been selling well...go to http://www.southcamdentheatre.org/ to reserve yours today. We hope to see you there.

That Championship Season

Just back from NY seeing "Season". All I can say is Go...go...go! This incredible top shelf cast [having an amazingly good time together, btw] is only one reason to see this Pulitzer Prize winning play on the big stage on Broadway. Another is Gregory Mosher's poignant and intelligent direction which mines every bit of humor and lets you watch these overgrown boys deal with the problems of the men they have become. Another incredibly special moment for me was getting to meet Jason Patric backstage after as I was privileged to know his father, the writer of the play, Jason Miller. We both had tears in our eyes as I told him of the last night I saw his dad at Dirty Frank's in Philly and I gave him my framed program with a cool pic of Jason Miller dressed as John Barrymore in his play "Barrymore's Ghost". And...what a performance he gives as "Tom". "Season" runs until the end of May. Don't miss it.....I can't tell you enough how much you would regret it if you don't catch "Coach" and the "boys".

Planning...planning....

Brother Mickey McGrath, an artist so revered one of his works was just placed in the Vatican Gallery, is now working on a new painting that he will be donating to SCTC. The work, which will show Eugene O'Neill and Dorothy Day, will be unveiled on a most special evening at the theatre on Thursday, May 5th. We are using this wonderful occasion as a special fundraising event that you are more than invited to attend. For a $25 donation [tix available at http://www.southcamdentheatre.org/] you will be among the first to see this new work following a beautiful wine and appetizer meet and greet with the artist and readings from both O'Neill and Day. A short scene from our play that opens on April 29th O'Neill's masterpiece, "A Moon for the Misbegotten" will also be performed just for you. Tickets are limited and as of today we are proud to announce that the Bishop of Camden, Joseph Gallante will be present. Please come out and support Mickey and his incredible work and his most generous donation to SCTC. The arts are alive and well in Waterfront South. Please get your tickets today online.

Jason Miller has left Purgatory

Thanks to everyone who came out for "Go Irish!" this weekend. Bob Hughes just left Camden for Scranton with a smile from ear to ear from the enthusiastic audiences and the great review he and the play received. He is now taking the play to NY in June for an off-off Broadway run. We have a little break now before the beautiful "Moon for the Misbegotten" rises over Camden thanks to Eugene O'Neill. Lots of rehearsals before we open on April 29th. Miller exits as O'Neill enters. Don't miss the excitement in Waterfront South.

Go Irish! opens tonight

I just left Bob Hughes, the actor who portrays Jason Miller in Go Irish! at the theatre where he is preparing for tonight. I helped him with his props and seeing them all again, feel wonderfully at home. I realized how much I truly love this play and am so proud to bring it to you at SCTC. The biggest moment for me to day was holding the trophy that is also on the set. It was used in "That Championship Season" in Scranton with Jason himself playing "Coach". It is engraved with"Scranton" on it and this was the trophy the man himself held many, many times. It brought him back for me. He smile, wild Irish eyes and great laugh and for a second he was there with me. This weekend, Bob will bring him back. Trust me, don't miss it. http://www.southcamdentheatre.org/ for tix.

One week until "Purgatory"

Thanks to everyone who already bought tickets for next weekend's "Go Irish! The Purgatory Diaries of Jason Miller". Please get your tix for this one weekend only event now! With "Championship Season" again playing sold out Broadway houses and "The Exorcist" always emblazoned in our minds, this wonderful play will take you deep inside the genius that was Jason Miller. Bob Hughes is remarkable and "blurs the line" between himself and Jason. having been one of the lucky people to have spent some time with Jason, this play allows him to again approach your soul with his "heart of a Jesuit". Don't miss this wonderful play! http://www.southcamdentheatre.org/ for tix!

Thank you City of Camden Rotary

I was honored to speak to the city of Camden Rotary at the Cathedral Kitchen. Thanks to Christina for the invite and everyone there for allowing me to share the message of SCTC and how we can all do our part to restore Camden to it's former glory. Theatre and art can do much to move us along in that direction and meeting people who share our mission was a wonderful thing. I hope to see everyone next week at Go Irish! as O'Neill's "Moon" comes ever closer.

Emporer Jones and Eugene O'Neill

I saw "Emporer Jones" last night at Iron Age Theatre in Norristown. The play, performances and experience are powerful ones..so powerful I wanted to share my feelings today. One can see O'Neill's work many times over and still learn, expereience and feel the wounded poet that he was. The wonderful play last night took me deeper into O'Neill's mind than ever before, even though I have read just about everything he wrote and have seen many of his plays. The rich bamboo of the jungle takes us into his isolation as a man and a writer, surrounded by the ghosts of his past and fueled by lonliness and his never ending talent. One goes deep into his mind in "Jones" and this gives us the chance to face our own ghosts and the dread of being trapped as Jones does. Go see this play. It runs for three weeks. And remember, we bring O'Neill to Camden April 29th in the form of his beautiful and tragic "A Moon For the Misbegotton". Take this spring to really feel the genius that is Eugene O'Neill.

Tenn x Ten

We are so excited about next season, honoring the great Tennessee Williams with an entire season dedicated to him. the picture you see on our poster was given to me by Gus Orr a couple of years ago. It was found in a publicist's office in NY and was purchased on ebay. My friends from the Williams Festival have never seen it as I do not think it was ever released. It is symbolic of our season next year. Works not often seen plus the world premiere of my play "Tennessee's Final Curtain" which takes you into his room on the night of his death. Lot's more this season to come...but I wanted to share this incredible picture of Tennessee with you. In the picture, look deep into his eyes and see his soul.