1994 O'Neill Show

In 1994, Becca Atkins, Catherine (Harding) Fedeli, and Eddie Hall joined Ronna Keil, SJ Williams, Kato McNickle and Steven Marks in the writer’s room. In addition this year’s O’Neill featured a collaborative piece written by Reliance House staff and members, giving the two agencies opportunity to collaborate. The O’Neill show came after a large, outdoor performance at the Marina, in Norwich featuring “Assorted Nuts, Nutwich Style,” the Reliance House piece. This collaboration also prompted participation by some new actors. 1994 was the first show for Sam Bliven, Mike Goodnow and Bob Davidson, all of whom participated for many, many years following their first show.
Some Second Step Players’ classics debuted in the 1994 O’Neill show - skits which would be toured for many years to come. “A Short Commercial Message” (a.k.a. “No-Stick Stigma Pam”) and “Terrorarma Theater presents. . . The Night of the Living Undiagnosed” made a huge splash, as did the more dramatic piece, “Depression 101,” which became a staple for college touring. 1994 is also the year of “The Melnick Pot. . .” - an infamous prop for the skit “The Health Care Jungle.” The giant cauldron did not arrive until the night of dress rehearsal, and was so large that - let’s just say, ‘adjustments had to be made’ to get it through the door!