O’Neill Theater Center Names Resident Artistic Director

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center has announced the appointment of J Ranelli as its first resident artistic director.

According to O’Neill executive director Amy Sullivan, “J Ranelli is uniquely qualified to serve as the O’Neill’s first full-time artistic director. He brings both an appreciation of where we come from and an inspiring and impassioned vision for our future. With J on board, I am confident that the O’Neill will achieve its full creative potential, and I look forward to our sharing an exiting and creative collaboration.”

Ranelli initially became involved with the O’Neill while a student at nearby Wesleyan University; he went on to direct more than 50 projects for the Center in addition to serving on its executive committe and creating the National Theater Institute, a college-accredited training program. He has directed plays on Broadway and in many theaters across the country, as well as having taught at Carnegie Mellon University, The Juilliard School, NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts, and many other institutions.

Said Ranelli, “No one framed it better than Eugene O’Neill himself when he said, ‘I write first about life and then try to cram it into play form.’ Our job, at all levels, is to contribute to the exploration of that process with artists who assume the same risks O’Neill did.” For more information, visit www.TheONeill.org.