As the theater world is slowly coming back to life after widespread pandemic shutdowns, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center is hosting a series of talks about theater.

The Saturday Spotlight boasts storytelling, interviews and demonstrations as it highlights artists who have participated in the O’Neill’s conferences discussing various aspects of stage work.

For this Saturday’s opening session, the subject is “The Evolution of a Song.” The featured artists are Alexander Gemignani, who is the artistic director of the O’Neill’s National Music Theater Conference, along with writer Amy Jo Jackson, who is part of this year’s NMTC, and arranger Pearl Rhein.

Coming up are…

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[naviga:li] July 10: “The NPC Effect” explores the O’Neill’s hugely influential development process, with National Playwright Conference Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg moderating a conversation with artists Carla Ching, Lawrence E Moten III, Reed Birney, and Samuel D. Hunter.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li] July 24: Bonnie Duncan, who has participated in the O’Neill’s National Puppetry Conference, presents her 35-minute performance “Squirrel Stole My Underpants.” It’s an adventure tale for families and will be followed by talkback hosted by National Puppetry Conference Artistic Director Pam Arciero.[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li] Aug. 7: “NCI: Back on Broadway,” in which National Critics Institute Director and Chicago Tribune critic and columnist Chris Jones, joined by leading critics and Broadway personalities, will take us behind-the-scenes to look at the impact the past 18 months have had on Broadway as well as chart the course for recovery for the theater industry at large.[/naviga:li]

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Saturday Spotlight, 6 p.m. June 26, July 10 and 24, and Aug. 7, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, outdoor amphitheater, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford; free admission, but people must RSVP by the Thursday before the event; masks and social distancing are required; www.theoneill.org.