Tracy Letts News

While the casting of Phylicia Rashad as the manipulative, pill-addicted matriarch of Oklahoma's abundantly dysfunctionAl Weston family in Tracy Letts' epic comedy/drama, August: Osage County may seem an odd choice for those who only know the actress from her television roles as the elegant Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show and... uh... Clair Huxtable II on Cosby, she might be considered a natural for the part by New York playgoers who have seen her rip up the stage as the anguished and dominating Bernarda Alba or have observed her communicating silent volumes as a symbol of African heritage in Gem of the Ocean.

The producers of August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, are pleased to announce that full casting for the First National Tour has been completed. The tour will kick off in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on July 24, 2009.

August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, starring Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet, will launch its national tour, in Denver, CO on July 24th, 2009. Following two weeks at Denver's Ellie Caukins Opera House (7/24-8/8), the show will play San Francisco's Curran Theatre from August 11 - September 6, 2009. Subsequent engagements will be announced shortly. Ms. Parsons is currently appearing in the show on Broadway where The New York Times recently raved, 'Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career.' Ms. Parsons joined the company in June, 2008. Estelle Parsons first foray into the business began when she was hired by 'The Today Show,' first as a production assistant, then staff writer, which eventually led her to become the first female television network political news reporter. Estelle began acting and appeared in her first stage performance on Broadway in Happy Hunting. Since then, Estelle has gone on to either star in or direct over 25 productions. Most notably, she has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Miss Margarida's Way and Mornings at Seven.

South Side Chicago writer John Hospodka and his Bohemian Pupil Press will publically launch the free on-line, multi-media ?literary picture show? South Side Trilogy at www.bohemianpupil.com, featuring a collection of fictional works which also utilizes sound and images. The public is asked to click in to read and experience the internet content, then purchase a PDF of the text (available to the media on request), and/or other items in support of the site, if desired. Hospodka defines the ?literary picture show? as a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound, images, and a sequence of literary techniques, giving the illusion of continuous movement.

The Dramatists Guild of America have announced the winners of their annual awards, which will be distributed at an awards ceremony Monday, November 2, 2009, at The Players Club in New York.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'August: Osage County' by Tracy Letts and directed by Anna D. Shapiro opens Wednesday September 9 at 7:30pm.

OpenStage Theatre & Company will hold two individual rounds of auditions for its upcoming 2009-10 season. Open auditions for the first three shows of the season will be held on Monday, July 20, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The full cast from the original Chicago production of Steppenwolf's new American play 'Superior Donuts' will reprise their roles when the play makes its Broadway debut this fall.

Artistic Directors Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox announce Profiles Theatre's 2009-2010 Season. Profiles, one of Chicago's longest-running ensemble theatres, is presenting its 21st season of new and challenging works, beginning with an extended run of the hit production of Graceland by Ellen Fairey.

Due to sold out performances and strong critical acclaim, P.S. 122 and The Amoralists are proud to announce that The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, written and directed by Derek Ahonen, will extend from July 30th to August 17th, 2009. Performance Space 122 is located at 150 1st Avenue (at East 9th Street) in NYC.

Theatre, film, television and music star Michael McKean will reprise his role as donut shop owner Arthur Przybyszewski in the Broadway premiere of Steppenwolf Theatre Company?s new American play Superior Donuts, by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by ensemble member Tina Landau. Mr. McKean originated the role during Superior Donuts? sold-out, world premiere at Steppenwolf last summer. Full casting will be announced shortly.

OpenStage Theatre & Company will hold two individual rounds of auditions for its upcoming 2009-10 season. Open auditions for the first three shows of the season will be held on Monday, July 20, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The New York Times reports that audience members attending the final performance of 'August: Osage County,' the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Tracy Letts that closed after the Sunday matinee today June 28th, were treated to an unexpected bonus.

TRACY LETTS' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of five 2008 Tony Awards, as well as the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and currently starring Tony and Emmy award winner PHYLICIA RASHAD, will play its final performance on SUNDAY, JUNE 28th, 2009. It will have played 648 performances and 18 previews, surpassing The Heidi Chronicles, Master Class, The Real Thing, and Doubt, among many others, to become one of the longest running plays in Broadway history.

Superior Donuts, Steppenwolf's new American play by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts will follow Letts' Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County into The Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), beginning performances on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, with an officially opening on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

Stephen Eich and Don Foster, the producers of Mark Roberts' RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire, will host a benefit performance for Music Menagerie on Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m., at The Lillian Theater (1076 North Lillian Way) in Hollywood.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Thursday, June 18, 2009.

TRACY LETTS' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of five 2008 Tony Awards, as well as the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and currently starring Tony and Emmy award winner PHYLICIA RASHAD, will play its final performance on SUNDAY, JUNE 28th, 2009. It will have played 648 performances and 18 previews, surpassing The Heidi Chronicles, Master Class, The Real Thing, and Doubt, among many others, to become one of the longest running plays in Broadway history.

South Side Chicago writer John Hospodka and his Bohemian Pupil Press will publically launch the free on-line, multi-media ?literary picture show? South Side Trilogy at www.bohemianpupil.com, featuring a collection of fictional works which also utilizes sound and images. The public is asked to click in to read and experience the internet content, then purchase a PDF of the text (available to the media on request), and/or other items in support of the site, if desired. Hospodka defines the ?literary picture show? as a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound, images, and a sequence of literary techniques, giving the illusion of continuous movement.

The producers of August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, are pleased to announce that full casting for the First National Tour has been completed.