The Eugene O'Neil Foundation, Tao House invites you to the Eugene O'Neil Festival 2024: Sweeping Passions featuring "Mourning Becomes Electra".  For this year's festival, everyone is invited to enjoy a photography showcase, live performances, poetry workshops, meet and greets, and more! The Eugene O’Neill Foundation, Tao House, was established in 1974 for the purposes of acquiring O’Neill’s former residence in Danville, California and establishing it as a historic monument. The foundation promotes the vision and legacy of America’s great playwright, Eugene O’Neill, through numerous educational, artistic, and research programs. The annual Eugene O’Neill Festival has celebrated dramatic theatre in the San Fransisco Bay Area. Similarly-themed plays from classic playwrights and O’Neill contemporaries are chosen for production at various locations in Danville with the centerpiece O’Neill show being performed at Tao House.

Event Highlights

Everyone is invited to The Eugene O’Neill Festival 2024! This festival will include a Poetry of Place workshop, Sweeping Passions Photography Showcase, a Happy Hour event with Dramaturg Willam Davies King, live performances of Mourning Becomes Electra directed by Eric Fraisher Hayes, virtual and in-person seminars with dramaturgs, actors and directors, and several social events throughout the fall season.

Poetry of Place, A Workshop

Led by creator of Poetry in the Parks and artist in residence Jodie Hollander, Poetry of Place will kick off the O’Neill Festival 2024. On Sunday, August 18 at 2:00 pm, workshop participants will use Tao House surroundings as inspiration as they receive writing prompts to create a poem about the significance of place. The importance of place is central in this year's performance of Mourning Becomes Electra where Tao House takes center stage.

August Happy Hour with Dramaturg Willam Davies King

On Tuesday, August 20 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, patrons will have an opportunity to meet William Davies King, Distinguished Professor of Theater and Dance at UC Santa Barbara, and this year’s Mourning Becomes Electra dramaturg. This special event will highlight Carlotta as O’Neill’s “guiding star” and will include photographs to be shared with attendees.

The Women in Mourning Becomes Electra, A Virtual Discussion

On Wednesday, August 28 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, join mother-daughter team Carole and Beth Wynstra for a free Virtual Discussion via Zoom as they discuss the play and its relationship to motherhood. Beth Wynstra is an associate professor at Babson College and an O’Neill scholar. Carole Wynstra is co-president of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation Board.

Sweeping Passions Photography Showcase

On Sunday, September 1 - Wednesday, October 16 at Museum of the San Ramon Valley, 205 Railroad Avenue, Danville, attendees will have the opportunity to view stunning photographs taken by local photographers and Artistic Director Eric Fraisher Hayes of the sweeping hills and house that inspired O'Neill to write his greatest plays. Do not miss this visual tribute to Danville's National Historic treasure as Tao House takes center stage in Mourning Becomes Electra.

The Oresteia and the Roots of Mourning Becomes Electra

Patrons are invited to a special presentation on the "Roots of Mourning Becomes Electra". Join the Eugene O'Neil Foundation on Wednesday, September 4, from 7:00 - 8:30 pm as Professor Emeritus of Classics, Mark Griffith, and Professor of English and Past President of the Eugene O’Neill Society, Katie Johnson, discuss O’Neill’s retelling of Aeschylus’ Oresteia.

Mourning Becomes Electra Live Performance

The Mourning Becomes Electra production will be running from Thursday, September 14 -  Sunday, September 29th and performed in the courtyard in front of Tao House as well as in the Old Barn Theatre a short walk away. O’Neill’s great American take on Greek tragedy is an action-packed epic featuring all the hallmarks of a captivating soap opera. The trilogy of one-act plays that make up Mourning Becomes Electra also highlights O’Neill’s trademark insight into the desires and struggles of the human condition as well as a haunting musical score. The setting for the play is the exterior and interior of the temple-like Mannon house. Tickets for Mourning Becomes Electra performances are $65 and can be purchased at: eugeneoneill.org/event/festival-2024-feature-oneills-mourning-becomes-electra/.

Ghosts of Tao House Stroll

Explore Downtown Danville while visiting over a dozen shop-and-dine Host-Sites on the Ghosts of Tao House Stroll. This event is a family-friendly self-guided ghost walking tour, day and night from Friday, September 6 to Wednesday, October 16.

The Nomads: A Friendship City Celebration Concert

The Nomads take center stage with special guests Lizzy Heffernan and Todd Brothers for a night of Irish music. This event will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 12 at the Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville. The Nomads will perform live music from folk songs to U2 and more to celebrate the New Ross and Danville Friendship City connection.

Secrets of O’Neill’s Danville, A Historic Walk

On Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 am at the Eugene O’Neill Commemorative Park, enjoy a free guided tour through Old Town Danville with local historians to discover the secrets of O’Neill’s Danville. Learn how the O’Neill’s shopped and lived locally circa 1937 - 1944. This event is accessible to all levels of walkers.

Whiskey Walk with Ghost Stories

The Whisky Walk with Ghost Stories event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Starting from the Auburn Lounge, docents will guide attendees throughout Downtown Danville to taste featured beverages and learn more about the Ghosts of Tao House host sites.

O’Neill Birthday Tribute

Join in a special birthday tribute on Wednesday, October 16 at 10:00 am. Take a shuttle to Tao House from the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and join the Eugene O'Neil Foundation for a toast to Eugene O'Neill and a tour of Tao House and its surrounding natural harbor.

Additional Information

Additional information relating to the events, sponsorship opportunities, and event participation is available. Information related to events, pricing and registration can be found by visiting: www.eugeneoneill.org/productions/festival. For more details, please refer to the Eugene O'Neil Foundation contact below.

Contact Information

Eugene O'Neil Foundation, Tao House
PO Box 402 Danville, CA 94526-0402
taohouse.eonf@gmail.com e-mail     www.eugeneoneill.org WWW

Hacienda Owners Association
4305 Hacienda Drive, Suite 330, Pleasanton, California  94588-2738
(925) 734-6500 phone     (925) 734-6501 fax
info@hacienda.org e-mail    www.hacienda.org WWW