O'Neill, Robert L.: - Robert L. O'Neill is a children's book author, Illustrator, poet, playwright and actor Robert loves all things creative. He has been painting and drawing since a young child and recently published his first children's book, "Sammy The Flying Purple Baby Elephant: Remembering the Way of the Elephant", which he wrote and illustrated. The storyline for this book developed from a painting he did at a Stewart Cubley's Painting Experience Workshop. In the 1980's Robert discovered the healing power of writing and enjoyed the telling of personal truths he held dear. In the 1990's he started writing poetry at a feverish pitch. In 1997 he wrote his first play, "Sure Thing Brokers", a play about a real estate salesman who struggles with his own conscience being in an industry that at times encourages dishonestly and the manipulation of others. In 2002 he wrote his second play, "Jesus Returns", a satire about Jesus returning to earth to save it but while giving sermons on the streets of New York is paid no mind and is forced to get a day job as a carpenter. In 2009 he began taking acting classes in improvisation with teachers Carl Stillitano and Erin Flowers at The Open Door Acting Company with the intention to improve his ability to speak publicly with his poetry. He has been an senior student with them ever since. He has performed in over 40 improvisational shows with them since 2012; all of which have greatly influenced his creative writing. Born from one of the improvisational shows he did in 2015 he wrote his third play, "To Plunge or Not to Plunge", a play about a third generation plumber who wants to be a Shakespearean actor. In 2017 he wrote two plays, "At the Platform Edge", a dramatic play about suicide and "Crazy as a Bed Bug", a comedy also about suicide. Robert has written dozens of vignettes over the past few years all born from improvisational scenes he's done either in class or on stage. Robert's focus in his writing is to touch the heart of the matter. He speaks to the truth of a character or situation moving towards a resolve, an awakening or a surprise outcome with any given conflict. In his dramatic work he enjoys finding the vulnerable and at times painful truths in relationships. In his comedic work he enjoys finding the humor with our shortcomings exposing the human side in all of us.