Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Replaces FOOL With THE WAY OF THINGS in Season Lineup

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has announced the development of The Way of Things by Theresa Rebeck, an adaptation of William Congreve's restoration comedy The Way Of The World, as the eighth play of the 2012 National Playwrights Conference. The Way of Things replaces Ms. Rebeck's previously announced Fool.

In this modern adaptation of Congreve's classic comedy, Rebeck lampoons the 1% and explores what true love means in an insincere world: "It's another summer in the Hamptons?everyone is drinking, shopping, gossiping, and bed-swapping. An heiress and her aunt unexpectedly find themselves at the heart of this summer's scandal when they both become entangled in the same smooth-talking bachelor's web."

The cast will include Bryan Dykstra, Sam Guncler, Laura Heisler, David Andrew Macdonald, Kristine Nielsen, Kate Nowlin, Katie Paxton, and Jeremy Webb.

Wendy C. Goldberg, Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference since 2005, noted, "Theresa arrived very passionate about this new piece. It became clear that The Way Of Things is the play we should develop this summer and we intend to collaborate on Fool in the future. I am excited to have Theresa here with us as part of the National Playwrights Conference and to welcome her to The O'Neill family."

The National Playwrights Conference, the O'Neill's flagship program, was founded in 1964. Playwrights shaped the Conference from its very inception. When founder George C. White first gathered a prominent group of emerging writers to discuss their needs, the result was the O'Neill model ? a place where playwrights can focus entirely on the development of their plays without the pressures of commercial production. More than 600 plays have evolved through the National Playwrights Conference.

The Way of Things will be directed by Wendy C. Goldberg and will be presented for public readings on July 27th 2012 at 7:15pm and July 28th at 8:15.

All performances take place at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford, CT 06385. Schedule is subject to change. Tickets may be purchased online at www.theoneill.org or through the box office at (860) 443-1238.