Reed Birney, Betty Gilpin & More Set for Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2014 National Playwrights Conference, Begins Today

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today casting for the 2014 National Playwrights Conference. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg, who celebrates her 10th season leading the Conference in 2014, the Conference runs from July 2 to July 19, and will be instrumental in the development of six new plays.

Bringing the plays to life will be six hand-selected casts, including Broadway veteran actor and 2014 Tony nominee Reed Birney; Obie Award and Albert Award winning actor and playwright Eisa Davis; and Betty Gilpin, known to audiences for her roles on "Nurse Jackie" and in Ghost Town.

This year's National Playwrights Conference will be a highlight of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 50th anniversary season. As the founding program of the O'Neill, the National Playwrights Conference began in 1964 as a retreat for playwrights eager to write new work. Since then, it has been the breeding ground of hundreds of new works for the stage and has played host to thousands of writers, actors, and artists.

"I am thrilled at the return of many alumni actors, and also welcome spectacular new talent to the National Playwrights Conference," comments Ms. Goldberg. "As the O'Neill celebrates its 50th anniversary season, all of these actors will help us immensely as we work through the development of these selected plays. We are grateful to have such talented and professional casts as such an important part of the O'Neill process."

Tiger Style! By Mike Lew, with public staged readings July 2 & 3, featuring MaryAnn Hu, Jennifer Ikeda, Francis Jue, Jason Liebman, and Eugene Young.

I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard by Halley Feiffer, with public staged readings July 4 & 5, featuring Reed Birney and Betty Gilpin.

Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino, with public staged readings July 9 & 10, featuring Cassie Beck, Rebecca Henderson, Jedidiah Schultz, Chris Sullivan, and Sally Wingert.

The Imaginary Music Critic Who Doesn't Exist by David Mitchell Robinson, with public staged readings July 12 & 13, featuring Eva Kaminsky, Ronete Levinson, Terrell Donnell Sledge, and Michelle Wilson.

A Power Play; Or, What's-its-Name by A. Rey Pamatmat, with public staged readings July 16 & 17, featuring Teresa Avia, Scott Drummond, Morgan Everitt, Naomi Lorrain, Johnny McKeown, Brian McManamon, Alfredo Narcisco, Jon Norman Schneider, Makela Spielman, and DeWanda Wise.

Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield, with public staged readings July 18 & 19, featuring Eisa Davis and Sue Jean Kim.

Schedule is subject to change. All performances are at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford, CT 06385. Tickets for the National Playwrights Conference may be purchased online at www.theoneill.org or through the O'Neill Box Office at (860) 443-1238.

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