A mother and daughter’s tumultuous relationship highlights the 2024 Eugene O’Neill Festival in Danville with the playwright’s passionate “Mourning Becomes Electra,” running Sept. 14-29.
Titled the “Sweeping Passions” festival, O’Neill’s mix of Greek tragedy, soap opera and noir crime thriller is the perfect choice to headline the event with its story of the wealthy Mannon family — mother Christine, daughter Lavinia, father Ezra and son Orin. Each consumed with their own demons, the incestuous family dynamics lead to shocking acts of revenge, murder and suicide until only one Mannon is left standing.
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Director Eric Fraisher Hayes opens and closes the play in the Tao House courtyard at O’Neill’s Danville home. The other scenes will be performed in O’Neill’s old barn, which has been converted into a theater. Because the final scenes will be staged in natural light, performance times have moved to 6 p.m. on Fridays and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The cast features Adrian Deane (Lavinia), Cynthia Lagodzinski (Christine), Hans Probst (Orin), Josiah Polhemus (Ezra) and Woody Harper (Adam, the love interest of both mother and daughter).
The festival opens with a poetry workshop Aug. 18 followed by a photography showcase Sept. 1 through Oct. 16, The Nomads concert Sept.12, plus multiple community events and talks throughout August and September. One intriguing event scheduled for Sept. 25 is titled “Whiskey Walk with Ghost Stories.”
Given that Tao House is in a Danville neighborhood, visitors must catch a shuttle at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley located on 205 Railroad Ave. to get to the property. Light snacks are included in the ticket price and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy before the performance.
For more information and tickets, go to eugeneoneill.org/productions/festival.
Oakland Hills: Next up at Woodminster Summer Musicals is Alan Menken’s “Sister Act.” Running Aug. 9-18, the musical comedy follows the exploits of disco diva Deloris Van Cartier. It seems the singer witnessed a murder and has been placed in protective custody by the police, who thought a convent would be the last place the murderous gang would look for the singing sensation.
Needless to say, the singer has problems with the rigid lifestyle and the uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Van Cartier breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the gang is giving chase, only to find themselves up against the singer and the power of her newly found sisterhood.
The show performs at the beautiful Woodminster Amphitheater located in the Oakland Hills at Joaquin Miller Park. Come early and picnic before the show. Go to woodminster.com.
Lafayette: Charlie Torch brings together five masterful bluegrass artists to Lafayette’s Town Hall Theatre for a rich night full of stories, bluegrass and country music on Friday at 7 p.m. Learn more at frontporchmusic.org.
S.F.: Also on the music front, East Bay singer/actress Laurie Roldan takes her cabaret show “Laurie Roldan Sings a Song for You” to San Francisco. Inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter, the show takes place Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. at Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson St. Proceeds benefit 42nd Street Moon.
Filled with Roldan’s soulful voice and heartfelt stories, the show also features special guests Deborah Del Maestro, Jordan Smith and Monica Rose Slater, plus a few surprises. Music director Brett Strader will play keyboards with Michael Henning on drums and Aaron Germain on bass.
For tickets, call 415-255-8207 or go to 42ndstmoon.vbotickets.com/events.
Also in S.F.: Now here’s something you don’t often see — a “free” new plays festival taking place Aug. 9-25 at San Francisco’s Potrero Stage, 1695 18th St. Produced by SF Playground, the festival includes a play that I’m in called “Venn Diagram” by Margo Rofé.
I must admit I wasn’t familiar with the term Venn diagram, but I’ve since learned that it uses overlapping circles or other shapes to show logical relationships between two or more sets of items. It was popularized by John Venn in the 1880s.
In Rofé’s work, it refers to two former college roommates reunited many years later when each is dealing with devastating family issues. Olivia (Jacinta Kaumbulu ) is trying to save her mentally ill mother (DeBorah Sharpe-Taylor) from homelessness, while Rebecca (Carole Swann) has an overbearing mother (Sally Hogarty) and a father (never seen) with dementia.
The powerful play has both Olivia and Rebecca attempting to overcome inherited trauma and bias as they renew their friendship and start a new chapter in their lives.
For seating reservations and simulcast information, go to playground-sf.org/freeplay.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.