Eugene O’Neill, Playwright
Transformed American Theatre From The Bay Area
One day at work a friend and I were chatting. You know how conversations go? You cover all relevant topics between point A and point B. Somewhere in that space we talked about local attractions. We live in the Bay Area and we have sightseeing options. He recommended I visit Tao House in Danville, California, home of famous and influential playwright Eugene O’Neill (illustration). After our conversation I dug into the playwright’s biography.
O’Neill’s childhood was unstable. His dad was an actor so they moved frequently. His mother struggled with mental health issues and addiction. Substance abuse, depression, a failed suicide attempt, infidelity, and success were in his future.
At Tao House he wrote “Long Days Journey Into Night” for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously. His groundbreaking works transformed theatrical productions from wrought melodramas to provocative dramas.
Tao House is part of the National Park Service (NPS). More info about the house is available on the NPS website.
Source, NPS.gov