Wendy C. Golberg is artistic director of the conference, which runs through July 28 and nurtures eight new plays in development. The O'Neill unites professional actors, directors and music directors to present the work of new writers to the general public.

Selected works and casting for the Playwrights Conference follows:

Provenance by Anne García-Romero will feature Zabryna Guevara, Keira Keeley, Robert Montano and Felix Solis (presented July 4-5). Directed by Juliette Carillo.

"In Los Angeles, two sisters receive a stolen painting created by their Mexican great-grandfather. Will the women keep the portrait in the family or sell the valuable artwork in order to survive?"

Reclamation by Ken Weitzman will feature Brian Kerwin, Ben Morrow and Jennifer Van Dyck (presented July 6-7). Directed by Lisa Peterson. "It's 2020 in the American West, and water shortages are forcing entire towns to relocate to urban centers. On the brink of relocation, Leland and Zach, a water manager and his assistant, attempt an unusual deal to save their town and what they call the 'Spirit of the West.'"

Two Lakes, Two Rivers by Laura Jacqmin will include Charlotte Booker, Michael Countryman, Clayton Fox, Keira Keeley, Karen Pittman, Will Rogers and Myra Lucretia Taylor (presented July 11-12). Directed by Henry Wishcamper.

"In a Midwestern town, college boys are drinking 'n' drowning for no apparent reason – despite whatever spells the Moms are casting at their 24/7 memorial. Then Peter disappears – without admitting to the crime his ex-girlfriend Bonnie is sure he's guilty of. As the town tries to solve the mystery of what's happening, Bonnie tries to understand what’s already happened."

Hype Hero (King Patch) by Dominic Taylor will include Leila Buck, Scott Drummond, Crystal Fox, David Lam, Curtis McClarin, Ben Morrow, Brian Quijada, Heather Simms, Makela Spielman and Chandra Thomas (presented July 13-14). Directed by Kym Moore.

"Large corporations have taken over the debt of poor citizens and one of these citizens {Rick (a patched man on his way to work)} has the temerity to ask the mayor a question. Since he cannot reach the corporation, he figured asking his local representative could answer his question. Since he is already in debt, how much will the answer cost us?"

Alligator by Hilary Bettis, will feature cast members Deonna Bouye, Clayton Fox, Kevin Geer, Megan Green, Will Rogers, Terrell Donnell Sledge and Kira Sternbach (presented July 18-19). Directed by Suzanne Agins.

"Emerald and her twin brother, Ty, are orphaned 'gator wrestlers living in the backwoods of the Florida Everglades, but their sideshow days are close to an end when a doe-eyed runaway, Lucy, shows up on their porch in the middle of a thunderstorm. As Lucy's desperation to win Emerald over intensifies, she will do whatever it takes to please her…even if it leads to murder. The only hope left rests on Emerald who must face the demon that haunts her every waking moment."

Orange Julius by Basil Kreimendahl will feature Rick Foucheux, Stacey Raymond, Nancy Robinette and Makela Spielman (presented July 20-21). Directed by Sarah Rasmussen.

"After being poisoned by Agent Orange in the jungles of Vietnam, Julius is dying of intestinal cancer. Nut, his queer daughter, tries to reconnect with her father as one man to another by caring for his decaying body, sorting through her childhood memories, and diving into war movie fantasies. As worlds and identities blur, Nut finds herself fighting for her father's life in ways she never expected."

The Tall Girls by Meg Miroshnik will include Deonna Bouye, Megan Green, Alexandra Henrickson, Teresa Avia Lim, Irene Sofia Lucio and Danny Mastrogorgio (presented July 25-26). Directed by Haley Finn.

"Welcome to Poor Prairie, the dusty, desolate town where fifteen-and-a-half-year-old Jean has been exiled as caretaker for her wild-child cousin, Almeda. It's a grim, dangerous place to eke out an existence as a teenage girl—until a handsome man with a past arrives, a brand-new basketball in tow. As the town's girls come together to form a team set on making it out of Poor Prairie, a murky committee of townspeople threatens to stamp out girls’ sports altogether."

Fool by Theresa Rebeck will feature Laura Heisler, Kristine Nielsen and Jeremy Webb (presented July 27-28). Directed by NPC artistic director Wendy C. Goldberg.

"Two jesters go head to head: Who is funnier? A comedy about comedy, tyranny and the love of the king."

Phone (860) 443-1238 or visit www.theoneill.org.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center was founded in 1964 and is based in Waterford, CT. Programs at the Center include the Puppetry Conference, Playwrights Conference, Critics Institute, Music Theater Conference and the National Theater Institute. The Monte Cristo Cottage, O'Neill's childhood home, is also owned and operated by the group.