John O’Neal, co-founder of Free Southern Theater, dies

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

John O’Neal, an actor, playwright, activist, member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), co-founder of the Free Southern Theater, and founding artistic director of Junebug Productions, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 14. He was 79.

O’Neal was born on September 25, 1940 in Mound City, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy from Southern Illinois University in 1962. He joined the SNCC and was an active participant in the Freedom Summer of 1964.

In 1963, O’Neal co-founded the Free Southern Theater with Doris Derby and Gilbert Moses at Tougaloo College in Mississippi. The theater relocated to New Orleans in 1965. It aimed to challenge its audience’s beliefs and perceptions, as well as support the Civil Rights Movement. Its first play was “Inherit the Wind,” with O’Neal playing the role of Clarence Darrow surrogate Henry Drummond.

JOHN O’NEAL

In 1980, the Free Southern Theater ended and O’Neal organized Junebug Productions. O’Neal served as artistic director until he retired in 2011. Stephanie McKee-Anderson, executive artistic director for Junebug Productions, described O’Neal as kind and “generous almost to a fault.”

O’Neal wrote a variety of plays during his distinguished career, including “Hurricane Season; Where is the Blood of Your Fathers;” and “When the Opportunity Scratches, Itch It.” He produced a book and lyrics for a musical comedy titled “Preacher Man! Preacher Man!.” He directed James Baldwin’s “Blues for Mr. Charlie.”

“John wanted to dedicate his life to work that was dedicated to our individual and collective freedom,” McKee-Anderson said. “He was a genius… one of the brightest minds of our time.”

In a 2012 interview O’Neal recalled the day he told his father he wanted to be a playwright. His father responded by asking what he intended to do for a living. O’Neal replied, “I don’t intend to work for a living. I intend to live for my work.”

O’Neal was a passionate believer in using art to comment on social justice issues. He never lost his youthful zeal for fighting oppression. In a statement posted on Facebook, his daughter, Wendi Moore-O’Neal, said, “My dad held many titles and jobs, but he never stopped identifying as a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Field Secretary. He spent one night in jail as a conscientious objector from the U.S. military but served over 50 years as a veteran in the war against oppression and for our collective freedom.”

New Orleans actor Wendell Pierce of “Treme” and “The Wire” paid tribute to O’Neal on Twitter, calling him a mentor.

“He used the power of art to advocate for change during the Civil Rights Movement (under the threat of death) but stood strong against intolerance,” Pierce wrote.

O’Neal is survived by his wife Bertha, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

This article originally published in the February 25, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.