I had the pleasure of meeting Eric as he and I joined five other volunteers - including Marcia Harmon owner of Cottage Jewel, to be waiters at Gianni's Italian Bistro in San Ramon for a fun-filled fundraising dining experience for the Eugene O'Neill Foundation!
How Did You Get Started With Your Career and Why Did You Choose to Work With the Eugene O'Neill Foundation?
I grew up in Danville, San Ramon Valley High, During my Senior year I took a drama class to get me to come out of my shell. I caught the acting bug and I was hooked.
Eventually, I chose to go to the Theatre School, DePaul University in Chicago to get a MFA in Acting. After acting professionally for a number of years in Chicago, I decided to return to Danville. Over time my theatre interests evolved from acting to directing and eventually artistic directing. Being committed to theatre and living in Danville it became very clear to me that I should take an interest in Danville's most famous theatre figure playwright Eugene O'Neill. I was invited to join the Eugene O'Neill Foundation, Tao House and my first, and crucial, action was to read the entire 50 play cannon of O'Neill's plays in the order they were written. By reading everything in the order it was written, I feel I developed a strong understanding of O'Neill's growth and journey as a playwright. It also gave me an appreciation for many of O'Neill's lesser known and seldom if ever produced plays.
Since I joined EONF, I have stressed the importance of producing his plays to help grow the appreciation of his work. To me, it is very important for people to have a first-hand experience of why Eugene O'Neill and Tao House are important. As Shakespeare said, "The plays the thing!"
What is the Most Memorable Experience You've Had Working With the EONF?
In 2014 we produced The Iceman Cometh at Tao House. It was the first time the play had been produced where it was written and that was very meaningful for me. We have a tradition at evening performances at Tao House of leaving the light of O'Neill's study on during performances so the audience can feel the connection between the play they are seeing and the place where Eugene O'Neill created his work. It is kind of magical.
What Do You Like Most About Being an Artistic Director?
As Artistic Director, I have overseen the growth of the Eugene O'Neill Festival from one weekend of events to a month long festival celebrating great dramatists like Arthur MIller, Tennessee Williams, and Edward Albee as well as Eugene O'Neill. I am very proud that we have become a festival worthy of the name Eugene O'Neill. We are now the leading producer of the plays of Eugene O'Neill in the country. Playing a leadership role in making my hometown a national leader in something is very satisfying.
Who Are Some of Your Business Idols and Role Models and Why?
I have a great admiration for what the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has done in Ashland. They have truly become a theatre destination where patrons arrive in town and see whatever is playing because they have such confidence in the quality of the plays. I hope the O'Neill Festival and Danville can be seen that way some day.
