Archive

Identifier: POET2005

Inclusive Dates: 2002 - 2006

Extent:

Roundabout Theatre Company staged Eugene O'Neill's A Touch of the Poet at Studio 54, with first preview on November 11, 2005, opening night on December 8, 2005 and closing night January 29, 2006. Designer Santo Loquasto was nomimated for a Tony Award for the production costumes. 

Clive Barnes, writing for The New York Post, wrote of the production: "This vivid Roundabout Theatre revival, directed by Doug Hughes and designed by Santo Loquasto, is strongly touched up by the charismatic Byrne...His wife (a marvelous Dearbhla Molloy, who reveals every aspect of the adoring, downtrodden Nora) and daughter (an equally brilliant Emily Bergl, who brings out Sara's pain, pride and ambition) are treated like servants...Despite the rich possibilities of O'Neill's Nora and Sara, the play really depends upon the actor playing Major Melody...From his first posturing and preening, all given the shrewd distancing of an alcoholic glaze, through to his final, bloody and vainglorious defeat, Byrne never puts a note in the wrong place, or casts a glance in the wrong direction. This is superb acting that represents Broadway at its rarely exalted best." (The New York Post, December 9, 2005)

Directed by Doug Hughes, with set and costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem, hair and wig design by Tom Watson.

Daniel Stewart Sherman played the part of Mickey Maloy, Byron Jennings played the part of Jamie Cregan, Emily Bergl played the part of Sara Melody, Dearbhla Molloy played the part of Nora Melody, Gabriel Byrne played the part of Cornelius Melody, Ciaran O'Reilly played the part of Dan Roche, Randall Newsome played the part of Paddy O'Dowd, Kathryn Meisle played the part of Deborah (Mrs. Henry Hartford), John Horton played the part of Nicholas Gadsby, David Power played Uilleann pipes. Understudies: Kristen Bush, Colin Lane, Kevin McHugh, Randall Newsome, Elizabeth Norment. 
 

Eugene O'Neill was born in New York City in 1888 and is considered the first great American playwright. His father was James O'Neill, the dramatic actor, and during his early years O'Neill often travelled with his parents. Beyond the Horizon (1920), the first of his plays to reach Broadway, won a Pulitzer Prize (he eventually won four) and opened the way for serious theatre in this country. In 1936 he became the only American playwright ever awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. [Roundabout Theatre press release, June 15, 2005]

A Touch of the Poet premiered on Broadway in 1958 at the Helen Hayes Theatre, directed by Harold Clurman. The play was revived on Broadway in 1967 and staged at the ANTA Playhouse, directed by Jack Sydow. In 1977, director Jose Quintero staged a second revival, again at the Helen Hayes Theatre. In 1988, a London production, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Timothy Dalton, was staged by the Young Vic Theatre Company. 

Production records housed in 2 Hollinger boxes spanning 22 folders. The records lack extensive set/costume documentation but the complete lighting bible is present, as is the script, author's agreement, performance reports and general administrative documentation. Production box contains 2 Playbills, direct mail piece, color print of cast/crew photograph.

Digital files include:
Education file (PDF of study guide) (31.2 MB)
General Management file (contracts) (1.35 MB)
Media file (Broll and audio interviews with Bergl, Hughes and Loquasto) (12.4 GB)
Opening Night file (color jpg photographs) (438 MB)
Playbill file (jpg scans) (19.1 MB)
Press file (TIF scans to PDF/A) (1.05 GB)
Photograph file (496 color jpgs) (1.66 GB)
Show art file (Window card and text treatment) (279 MB)

Marketing files include: 
Departmental season file that includes ad placement, marketing plans
Show file that includes mock ups, agency correspondence, ad placement

Access Restrictions: Open and available for research by appointment only except as when noted.

Preferred Citation: Touch of the Poet, A (2005), Roundabout Theatre Company Archives