Pandemic Pivot: The Birth of Tao House Films

ABSTRACT:Prior to the pandemic, the magic of live performance at Tao House had been discovered. There has been a growing appreciation for the unique experience of producing O'Neill's plays where he created them. The pandemic demanded a dramatic reimaging of what the combination of play and place meant. As with many innovations, necessity demanded new thinking. Problems arose and solutions were needed to meet the moment. A new approach to celebrating the plays of Eugene O'Neill and their connection to Tao House was discovered. Filming the plays not only gave us a way to remain creative and productive, thus keeping the spirit of O'Neill alive, but it also established a new breadth of audience. As much as we hope for and look toward a COVID-free future, the Eugene O'Neill Foundation now looks toward a future of hybrid programming—a combination of live and filmed productions.