Poduction at the Imperial in New Yorkcast and designers have remained the same.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Building Augsut:Osage County
Building the original set at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago the director is Ann Shapiro and is 2007blog.steppenwolf.org
Reviews of August:Osage County
A Fiery New Incarnation of a Monster of a Mother
The followng is a review from the New York times
·
theater2.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/theater/reviews/16osag.html
By CHARLES ISHERWOOD
Published: July 16, 2008
It’s really not a good idea to mess with Violet Weston, the fire-breathing dragon lady of Pawhuska, Okla., who presides over a feast of family combat in “August: Osage County.” As all who have seen Tracy Letts’s celebrated comedy-drama on Broadway no doubt vividly recall, Violet does not brook much interference when it comes to indulging her favorite pastimes.
Skip to next paragraph
Raise an objection to that eviscerating commentary on her daughter’s looks and you are likely to find your own being mercilessly dissected. Delicately suggest that she refrain from airing the family’s dirtiest laundry over dinner and you will be subjected to eyebrow-singeing bursts of invective.
Oh, and don’t even think of getting between Violet and the little bottles of pills she pops like Tic Tacs. That would be a sure way to lose a limb.
Violet is a maternal monster on an outrageous scale, but she is also one of the most spellbinding characters in memory to stalk a Broadway stage. So it is good news to report that Estelle Parsons, the venerable actress who has taken over this demanding role from the Tony Award-winning Deanna Dunagan, has had the good sense not to mess with her much.
THEATER REVIEW
'August' is only more intense as it opens on Broadway
By Chris Jones Tribune theater critic
December 5, 2007
Moreover, this "August" is a different deal. This is Broadway. The leading actors are women. As the story of three middle-age sisters forced to return to their parents' Oklahoma home after their father's disappearance, this is the commissioned work of an in-sync house playwright Steppenwolf never had before. "August" won't confirm the Steppenwolf mystique so much as retool it.Letts has written a grand, old three-act family drama of epic scale and ambition, replete with numerous nods to Eugene O'Neill and Lillian Hellman. He begins his play with the disappearance of Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts), a drunken academic. His three adult daughters -- played by Morton, Sally Murphy and Marianne Mayberry -- return home to their pill-popping mother, Violet (Dunagan), to try and figure out why Beverly is gone. Violet's sister Mattie Fae (Rondi Reed) is there too. And these women all come hitched to either an immoral or a dysfunctional man. Or both.
www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi-080224augustnyc-story,0,7005888.story -
PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: August: Osage County — Deliriously Dysfunctional
By Harry Haun06 Dec 2007
The family skeletons are dancing as fast as they can in August: Osage County, a graceful swan-dive into domestic donnybrooks which landed with a major critical splash at the Imperial Dec. 4.
Rarely, they say, has home, hearth and hell been so hilariously served.
Familial in-fighting has produced some famous American plays, and this new addition demonstrates how the gritty has gone to giddy — from The Little Foxes and Long Day's Journey Into Night to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Delicate Balance. Humor battling for life amid the billowing chaos is what Tracy Letts has brought to this genre, and it transforms this familiar terrain into something quite fresh and — startlingly! — funny.
He wrote, if not sculptured, this opus to the talents of his fellow actors in Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company — and then let 13 of them duke it out, refereed artfully by troupe director Anna D. Shapiro.
www.playbill.com/features/article/113338.html - 55k
Originally posted: July 9, 2007
Steppenwolf's 'August: Osage County' a blast of truth, sin from Tracy Letts
Written by Chris Jones for the Chicago Tribune
THEATER REVIEW
Given his lip-smacking relish for the agonizing unveiling of familial pain, it's doubtful that Tracy Letts will be declared the official playwright of the state of Oklahoma any time soon. The Sooners already gave their hearts to that romantic 1943 musical set within their nascent borders, and nobody will want to see "August: Osage County" performed in the Tulsa schools.
But with this staggeringly ambitious — and, for my money, staggeringly successful — three-act domestic opus for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Letts has penned a major, not-to-be-missed new American work that eulogizes the perversely nurturing dysfunction of family life on the Plains as surely as it skewers the arid absurdities of its underpinning. And with the help of director Anna D. Shapiro, Letts has built a vehicle for the great Chicago actress Deanna Dunagan, who plays the caustic Weston family matriarch, presiding over a grown trio of sisters who've rushed home to Pawhuska to find out why their father, a sometime writer and constant drinker, has suddenly disappeared. Popping pills, telling truths and exploding her kids' inadequate defenses, Dunagan spits out the kind of brilliantly acidic performance that will be remembered in this town for years to come.
leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2007/07/at-steppenwolf-.html - 74k
The link below is a review from a blog written by Steve
called Steve on Broadway
steveonbroadway.blogspot.com/2007/08/august-osage-county-sob-review.html - 35k
Sunday, August 19, 2007
August: Osage County (The SOB Review)
August: Osage County (The SOB Review) - Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago, IL**** (out of ****)As regular readers know, I employ a four-star system to rate the live stage productions I see. Four stars are strictly reserved for the best of the best.However, if I could defy my own rules, I'd give August: Osage County five stars. Under the exceptionally sure and steady guiding hand of Anna D. Shapiro, it's that hot of a show. And the direction isn't the only thing that's sweltering on the stage.By far the best-written, best-acted play I've ever seen at Chicago's Steppenwolf -- and that's no small feat -- August: Osage County is ensemble member Tracy Letts' masterpiece.It's mesmerizing.To say it's the most excellent stage production I've seen this year would be a gross understatement.While it would be far too easy to think of this as some modern-day version of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, the three-hour, 20-minute family saga is at once chilling and funny. Letts, an Okahoma native, ingeniously paints a picture of life that's both bleak and vital in the immense, rural area to the northwest of Tulsa where temperatures easily soar in the eighth month of each year.August: Osage County centers on a heavy-drinking poet Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts, the playwright's father, in a subtle poignant portrayal who haunts the play long after his lone appearance) and his venomous drug-addled wife Violet (a breathtakingly potent Deanna Dunagan, pictured, in
A CurtainUp Review
August: Osage County
By Elyse Sommer
It's a damn fine day to tell the truth!.— Not everyone would agree with the high on pills Violet that a funeral dinner is the ideal time for serving up accusations and painful secrets.
Deanna Dunagan as Violet Weston(Photo by Joan Marcus) Yes, "life is very long. . . "(to quote T.S. Elliott, via family patriarch Beverly Weston) and, yes, so is August: Osage County (as noted by our Chicago critic Larry Bommer). But long isn't a bad thing. A boring ninety-minute, intermissionless play can seem endless. But the more than three hours fly by in this terrific three acter a by Tracy Letts, with its bakers' dozen of fully rounded, damaged characters portrayed by a group of the Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre Company's finest actors. Unlike Letts' raunchy thrillers, Killer Joe and Bugs, August: Osage County belongs to a long line of memorable plays about dysfunctional families whose members fight their weaknesses (booze, drugs, depression, adultery, guilt) and each other. Think Long Day's Journey into Night The Little Foxes, Crimes of the Heart, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Death of a Salesman. But expect a completely unique and distinctive addition to this genre. The plot device that brings the Weston clan to Todd Rosenthal's exquisitely detailed three-story house outside Pawhuska, Oklaoma maybe almost too facile, but it works. Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts, the author's father) gets the first scene which prepares us for the familiar but forever shocking emotional baggage to be unpacked. In what amounts to a long monologue, Beverly interviews Johanna Monevata (Kimberly Guerrero), a young Indian woman, for a job as housekeeper for the ramshackle house and as caretaker for his pill-addicted, cancer stricken wife Violet (a riveting no-holds barred Deanna Dunagan). The old-fashioned three-story dollhouse set can easily lull us into thinking we might be wrong to anticipate that Letts will roll out of a barrel full of Weston woes. But this is at best momentary. Even before that digressive opening scene interview is over, Violet Weston descends the circular staircase, a delicate looking woman, whose bent-over walk is as painful to watch as it must feel. Pain and regret have given her tongue an extra-sharp razor's edge (an ironic metaphor, given that it's mouth cancer she's suffering from).
www.curtainup.com/augustosageny.html - 19k
The followng is a review from the New York times
·
theater2.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/theater/reviews/16osag.html
By CHARLES ISHERWOOD
Published: July 16, 2008
It’s really not a good idea to mess with Violet Weston, the fire-breathing dragon lady of Pawhuska, Okla., who presides over a feast of family combat in “August: Osage County.” As all who have seen Tracy Letts’s celebrated comedy-drama on Broadway no doubt vividly recall, Violet does not brook much interference when it comes to indulging her favorite pastimes.
Skip to next paragraph
Raise an objection to that eviscerating commentary on her daughter’s looks and you are likely to find your own being mercilessly dissected. Delicately suggest that she refrain from airing the family’s dirtiest laundry over dinner and you will be subjected to eyebrow-singeing bursts of invective.
Oh, and don’t even think of getting between Violet and the little bottles of pills she pops like Tic Tacs. That would be a sure way to lose a limb.
Violet is a maternal monster on an outrageous scale, but she is also one of the most spellbinding characters in memory to stalk a Broadway stage. So it is good news to report that Estelle Parsons, the venerable actress who has taken over this demanding role from the Tony Award-winning Deanna Dunagan, has had the good sense not to mess with her much.
THEATER REVIEW
'August' is only more intense as it opens on Broadway
By Chris Jones Tribune theater critic
December 5, 2007
Moreover, this "August" is a different deal. This is Broadway. The leading actors are women. As the story of three middle-age sisters forced to return to their parents' Oklahoma home after their father's disappearance, this is the commissioned work of an in-sync house playwright Steppenwolf never had before. "August" won't confirm the Steppenwolf mystique so much as retool it.Letts has written a grand, old three-act family drama of epic scale and ambition, replete with numerous nods to Eugene O'Neill and Lillian Hellman. He begins his play with the disappearance of Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts), a drunken academic. His three adult daughters -- played by Morton, Sally Murphy and Marianne Mayberry -- return home to their pill-popping mother, Violet (Dunagan), to try and figure out why Beverly is gone. Violet's sister Mattie Fae (Rondi Reed) is there too. And these women all come hitched to either an immoral or a dysfunctional man. Or both.
www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi-080224augustnyc-story,0,7005888.story -
PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: August: Osage County — Deliriously Dysfunctional
By Harry Haun06 Dec 2007
The family skeletons are dancing as fast as they can in August: Osage County, a graceful swan-dive into domestic donnybrooks which landed with a major critical splash at the Imperial Dec. 4.
Rarely, they say, has home, hearth and hell been so hilariously served.
Familial in-fighting has produced some famous American plays, and this new addition demonstrates how the gritty has gone to giddy — from The Little Foxes and Long Day's Journey Into Night to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Delicate Balance. Humor battling for life amid the billowing chaos is what Tracy Letts has brought to this genre, and it transforms this familiar terrain into something quite fresh and — startlingly! — funny.
He wrote, if not sculptured, this opus to the talents of his fellow actors in Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company — and then let 13 of them duke it out, refereed artfully by troupe director Anna D. Shapiro.
www.playbill.com/features/article/113338.html - 55k
Originally posted: July 9, 2007
Steppenwolf's 'August: Osage County' a blast of truth, sin from Tracy Letts
Written by Chris Jones for the Chicago Tribune
THEATER REVIEW
Given his lip-smacking relish for the agonizing unveiling of familial pain, it's doubtful that Tracy Letts will be declared the official playwright of the state of Oklahoma any time soon. The Sooners already gave their hearts to that romantic 1943 musical set within their nascent borders, and nobody will want to see "August: Osage County" performed in the Tulsa schools.
But with this staggeringly ambitious — and, for my money, staggeringly successful — three-act domestic opus for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Letts has penned a major, not-to-be-missed new American work that eulogizes the perversely nurturing dysfunction of family life on the Plains as surely as it skewers the arid absurdities of its underpinning. And with the help of director Anna D. Shapiro, Letts has built a vehicle for the great Chicago actress Deanna Dunagan, who plays the caustic Weston family matriarch, presiding over a grown trio of sisters who've rushed home to Pawhuska to find out why their father, a sometime writer and constant drinker, has suddenly disappeared. Popping pills, telling truths and exploding her kids' inadequate defenses, Dunagan spits out the kind of brilliantly acidic performance that will be remembered in this town for years to come.
leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2007/07/at-steppenwolf-.html - 74k
The link below is a review from a blog written by Steve
called Steve on Broadway
steveonbroadway.blogspot.com/2007/08/august-osage-county-sob-review.html - 35k
Sunday, August 19, 2007
August: Osage County (The SOB Review)
August: Osage County (The SOB Review) - Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago, IL**** (out of ****)As regular readers know, I employ a four-star system to rate the live stage productions I see. Four stars are strictly reserved for the best of the best.However, if I could defy my own rules, I'd give August: Osage County five stars. Under the exceptionally sure and steady guiding hand of Anna D. Shapiro, it's that hot of a show. And the direction isn't the only thing that's sweltering on the stage.By far the best-written, best-acted play I've ever seen at Chicago's Steppenwolf -- and that's no small feat -- August: Osage County is ensemble member Tracy Letts' masterpiece.It's mesmerizing.To say it's the most excellent stage production I've seen this year would be a gross understatement.While it would be far too easy to think of this as some modern-day version of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, the three-hour, 20-minute family saga is at once chilling and funny. Letts, an Okahoma native, ingeniously paints a picture of life that's both bleak and vital in the immense, rural area to the northwest of Tulsa where temperatures easily soar in the eighth month of each year.August: Osage County centers on a heavy-drinking poet Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts, the playwright's father, in a subtle poignant portrayal who haunts the play long after his lone appearance) and his venomous drug-addled wife Violet (a breathtakingly potent Deanna Dunagan, pictured, in
A CurtainUp Review
August: Osage County
By Elyse Sommer
It's a damn fine day to tell the truth!.— Not everyone would agree with the high on pills Violet that a funeral dinner is the ideal time for serving up accusations and painful secrets.
Deanna Dunagan as Violet Weston(Photo by Joan Marcus) Yes, "life is very long. . . "(to quote T.S. Elliott, via family patriarch Beverly Weston) and, yes, so is August: Osage County (as noted by our Chicago critic Larry Bommer). But long isn't a bad thing. A boring ninety-minute, intermissionless play can seem endless. But the more than three hours fly by in this terrific three acter a by Tracy Letts, with its bakers' dozen of fully rounded, damaged characters portrayed by a group of the Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre Company's finest actors. Unlike Letts' raunchy thrillers, Killer Joe and Bugs, August: Osage County belongs to a long line of memorable plays about dysfunctional families whose members fight their weaknesses (booze, drugs, depression, adultery, guilt) and each other. Think Long Day's Journey into Night The Little Foxes, Crimes of the Heart, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Death of a Salesman. But expect a completely unique and distinctive addition to this genre. The plot device that brings the Weston clan to Todd Rosenthal's exquisitely detailed three-story house outside Pawhuska, Oklaoma maybe almost too facile, but it works. Beverly Weston (Dennis Letts, the author's father) gets the first scene which prepares us for the familiar but forever shocking emotional baggage to be unpacked. In what amounts to a long monologue, Beverly interviews Johanna Monevata (Kimberly Guerrero), a young Indian woman, for a job as housekeeper for the ramshackle house and as caretaker for his pill-addicted, cancer stricken wife Violet (a riveting no-holds barred Deanna Dunagan). The old-fashioned three-story dollhouse set can easily lull us into thinking we might be wrong to anticipate that Letts will roll out of a barrel full of Weston woes. But this is at best momentary. Even before that digressive opening scene interview is over, Violet Weston descends the circular staircase, a delicate looking woman, whose bent-over walk is as painful to watch as it must feel. Pain and regret have given her tongue an extra-sharp razor's edge (an ironic metaphor, given that it's mouth cancer she's suffering from).
www.curtainup.com/augustosageny.html - 19k
Production History
August: Osage County is a new play that hit the scenes in June of 2007. With such a brief production history having only played at three theatres I will contribute how the play was brought to life.
The play was written by Tracy Letts who is a member of the ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre located in Chicago, Il. Steppenwolf is committed to the development and production of new work. Through its New Plays Initiative, Tracy Letts has created all of his plays. Through reading and workshops, the ensemble members helped develop August: Osage County and launch its debut June 28th- August 26th 2007. The ensemble members served as producer for this production.
Featuring ensemble members:
Ian Barford
Francis Guinan
Mariann Mayberry
Amy Morton
Sally Murphy
Jeff Perry
Rondi Reed
Rick Snyder
With:
Deanna Dunagan
Kimberly Guerrero
Fawn Johnstin
Dennis Letts
Troy West
DESIGNERS, AUTHORS & CREW
Author: ensemble member Tracy LettsDirected by: ensemble member Anna D. ShapiroScenic Design: Todd RosenthalCostume Design: Ana KuzmanicLighting Design: Ann WrightsonOriginal Music: David SingerSound Design: Richard WoodburyStage Manager: Deb StyerAssistant Stage Manager: Michelle MedvinDramaturg: Edward Sobel
August: Osage County moved to Broadway after it closed in Chicago.
It played at the Imperial Theatre located on 45th Street in New York City.
The began with previews on October 30th opening on November 20th with a sixteen week limited engagement. The producer is Jeffrey Richards and the cast members remained the same from the original in Chicago
It moved to the Music Box Theatre on March 2, 2008 and the cast member that changed are Estelle Parsons as Violet, Frank Wood as Bill, Jim Frost as Little Charles, Molly Regan as Mattie Fae and Robert Foxworth as Uncle Charlie. The rest remained the same and it still is currently running.
The orginal cast will join again when they take August Osage County to London. The first time in 20 years Steppenwolf has been back.
A world tour is scheduled for September 2009 starting in San Francisco
The production that is most notable would the orignal in Chicagos Steppenwolf. It was met with great reviews and patrons of the theatre knew this would go on. The whole process of the ensemble members that helped bring this play to fruition is amazing. It is not often that actors get to participate in a creation of a new work and take it to Broadway. The whole process is truly an artistic format. That most people would relish in being a part of.
The play was written by Tracy Letts who is a member of the ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre located in Chicago, Il. Steppenwolf is committed to the development and production of new work. Through its New Plays Initiative, Tracy Letts has created all of his plays. Through reading and workshops, the ensemble members helped develop August: Osage County and launch its debut June 28th- August 26th 2007. The ensemble members served as producer for this production.
Featuring ensemble members:
Ian Barford
Francis Guinan
Mariann Mayberry
Amy Morton
Sally Murphy
Jeff Perry
Rondi Reed
Rick Snyder
With:
Deanna Dunagan
Kimberly Guerrero
Fawn Johnstin
Dennis Letts
Troy West
DESIGNERS, AUTHORS & CREW
Author: ensemble member Tracy LettsDirected by: ensemble member Anna D. ShapiroScenic Design: Todd RosenthalCostume Design: Ana KuzmanicLighting Design: Ann WrightsonOriginal Music: David SingerSound Design: Richard WoodburyStage Manager: Deb StyerAssistant Stage Manager: Michelle MedvinDramaturg: Edward Sobel
August: Osage County moved to Broadway after it closed in Chicago.
It played at the Imperial Theatre located on 45th Street in New York City.
The began with previews on October 30th opening on November 20th with a sixteen week limited engagement. The producer is Jeffrey Richards and the cast members remained the same from the original in Chicago
It moved to the Music Box Theatre on March 2, 2008 and the cast member that changed are Estelle Parsons as Violet, Frank Wood as Bill, Jim Frost as Little Charles, Molly Regan as Mattie Fae and Robert Foxworth as Uncle Charlie. The rest remained the same and it still is currently running.
The orginal cast will join again when they take August Osage County to London. The first time in 20 years Steppenwolf has been back.
A world tour is scheduled for September 2009 starting in San Francisco
The production that is most notable would the orignal in Chicagos Steppenwolf. It was met with great reviews and patrons of the theatre knew this would go on. The whole process of the ensemble members that helped bring this play to fruition is amazing. It is not often that actors get to participate in a creation of a new work and take it to Broadway. The whole process is truly an artistic format. That most people would relish in being a part of.
Friday, July 25, 2008
The World Of The Play:Space
The families favorite recreation http://www.fade.org.nz/images/alcohol-drug-info-pic.png
Got to love the night life in Pawhuska
This is a picture of the library at Tulsa University
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgthornhill/142424656/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtneer_man/2359361567
Lake Pawhuska where Beverly took his life
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idswart/252386163/ 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79704578@N00/1798541574/ 
Violets cocktail of choice
Got to love the night life in Pawhuska
Red dirt road on the Osage Indian Reservation
http://www.chopperbruce.com/tat/010.jpg
This is a picture of the library at Tulsa Universityhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/dgthornhill/142424656/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtneer_man/2359361567Lake Pawhuska where Beverly took his life
Buffalo roaming the praries
The eary tranquility of the praries
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idswart/252386163/ The booming metropolis of Pawhuska
The county court house
This is a picture of home similar to that of the Westons in Pawhuska.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79704578@N00/1798541574/ This is the open prarie that surrounds Pawhuska. This give you a sense of the lonliness
This is the orginal set of August: Osage County
The World Of The Play: SOUND
The music in August:Osage County should be reflective of the Plains where they live and this best can be described in the following dialogue:
Barbara: This is the Plains: a state of mind, right, some spiritual afflication, like the Blues.
Bill: “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. Just got the Plains.”
The plains is in Americas Heartland and the music should capture that world. This is where Woody Gutherie is from and there should be a blues and folk element present.
The following musical selections are from Jimmy LaFave. His family later moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he finished high school. Although he has lived in Austin for nearly 20 years, many people think of him as being from Oklahoma, because of his strong musical ties to the state and what he often refers to as its “red dirt music.” It was in this landscape that he began to define his sound and soak up a combination of his experiences among authentic songwriters from the tradition of Woody Guthrie.
The following are from Blue Night Fall:
Revival
In a strange way the Westons are having a Revival during the play and are tryin to bring back their own life.
Bohemian Cowboy Blues
I feel this song is remnant of Beverlys state of mind.
Its Gone
In this song he describes life on the prarie and life between the Indians and White Man.
The CD can be purchased from CD Universe. You can also listen to the songs on the link below.
www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6824982/a/Blue+Nightfall.htm
The lyrics are below.
www.jimmylafave.com/lyrics/lyrics.html - 130k
Oklahoma Hills:
The song was originally written by Woody Gutherie but I chose to do the version from Jimmy La Fave. It has a bit of a modern twist on an old story.
www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/oklahoma-hills.shtml - 3k
The CD can be purchased below
www.amazon.com/Trail-Jimmy-LaFave/dp/B00000HYWI - 238k
The next songs are from the Flatlanders Now Again CD
The Song are:
Now It's Now Again
This gives a good description to of the relationship with Beverly and Violet and their whole family.
I Thought the Wreck Was Over
This song reminds me of Violet and her tyrannical rages. They all brase themselves but it always is a train wreck waiting to happen.
Going Away
They all want to go away from where they are. This has a great lonesome feeling.
music.yahoo.com/The-Flatlanders/Now-Its-Now-Again/lyrics/2022766
The CD can be purchased at CD Universe and you can also listen to some samples of the songs at the following link.
www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/3433449/a/Now+Again.htm - 53k
The following artist really capture the lonely feeling of the plains and would create a nice mood with their music.
Barbara: This is the Plains: a state of mind, right, some spiritual afflication, like the Blues.
Bill: “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. Just got the Plains.”
The plains is in Americas Heartland and the music should capture that world. This is where Woody Gutherie is from and there should be a blues and folk element present.
The following musical selections are from Jimmy LaFave. His family later moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he finished high school. Although he has lived in Austin for nearly 20 years, many people think of him as being from Oklahoma, because of his strong musical ties to the state and what he often refers to as its “red dirt music.” It was in this landscape that he began to define his sound and soak up a combination of his experiences among authentic songwriters from the tradition of Woody Guthrie.
The following are from Blue Night Fall:
Revival
In a strange way the Westons are having a Revival during the play and are tryin to bring back their own life.
Bohemian Cowboy Blues
I feel this song is remnant of Beverlys state of mind.
Its Gone
In this song he describes life on the prarie and life between the Indians and White Man.
The CD can be purchased from CD Universe. You can also listen to the songs on the link below.
www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6824982/a/Blue+Nightfall.htm
The lyrics are below.
www.jimmylafave.com/lyrics/lyrics.html - 130k
Oklahoma Hills:
The song was originally written by Woody Gutherie but I chose to do the version from Jimmy La Fave. It has a bit of a modern twist on an old story.
www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/oklahoma-hills.shtml - 3k
The CD can be purchased below
www.amazon.com/Trail-Jimmy-LaFave/dp/B00000HYWI - 238k
The next songs are from the Flatlanders Now Again CD
The Song are:
Now It's Now Again
This gives a good description to of the relationship with Beverly and Violet and their whole family.
I Thought the Wreck Was Over
This song reminds me of Violet and her tyrannical rages. They all brase themselves but it always is a train wreck waiting to happen.
Going Away
They all want to go away from where they are. This has a great lonesome feeling.
music.yahoo.com/The-Flatlanders/Now-Its-Now-Again/lyrics/2022766
The CD can be purchased at CD Universe and you can also listen to some samples of the songs at the following link.
www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/3433449/a/Now+Again.htm - 53k
The following artist really capture the lonely feeling of the plains and would create a nice mood with their music.
The World Of The Play:Time
The time is August 2007 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma sixty miles northwest of Tulsa. There is not a particular day set in August. Time has become irrelevant to Beverly and Violet Weston. Below is a link to learn more about Pawhuska
http://www.pawhuskachamber.com/
The Pawhuska Journal Capital is the local newspaper. Click on the link below and go to archives to read about happenings in Pawhuska during August 2007.
http://www.pawhuskajournalcapital.com/
A total lunar eclipse occurred August 27, 2007 lasting over 90 minutes the longest and deepest in over 7 years. Below is a link to an interview on NPR with playwright Tracy Letts and his father. This gives an insight to the life of the Westons and how he devloped the play.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId
The "Weston Clan" is a symbol of the decaying Middle Class American family. You can draw a symbol of what unfortunate encounter happened to the Native American to what is going on in their life. The children have all moved away except for Ivy. When the children start moving away the family generally starts to deteriorate.
Johnna Monevata is the Indian housekeeper that Beverly hires. Below is a link to the Osage Nation to better understand her world.
http://www.osagetribe.com/
The Weston family values Education. Beverly was a professor and poet. All of the girls graduated from college and Barbara is even a Professor at University of Colorado in Boulder. Education was their freedom from the stillness of the plains.
It also is important to know a little about Boulder, Colorado because this is where Barbara, Bill and their Jean live. They are very open with their daughter who is 15 and openly smokes cigarettes and pot in front of her parents. Boulder is a very liberal city and most likely if they lived in Oklahoma Jeans life would be much different.
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/
The whole family loves mind altering substances whether it is pill, booze or pot. This is main ingrediant to Beverly and Violets relationship. In the prologue Beverly states: " My wife takes pill and I drink. That's the bargain we've struck.." Not able to deal with the harsh reality they escape daily through some substance. Violet even refers to her pill as "my best friend and they never let me down!".
They love poetry constantly quoting various poets. The family certainly represents your stereotypical frustrated poet.
For the older women Violet and Mattie Fae the role of the women are traditional mother and wife. Violet could not deal with life once all her chicks flew the coop. Mattie Fae created a situation that would not allow her son to leave home. No one wants to be alone on the plains.
The world that shaped the Westons was also Tulsa University. Tulsa is known as "little Austin" in Oklahoma. The more liberal free thinkers dwell in Tulsa. The Weston in their "day" were the family that people envied in Pawhuska. It is important to understand the role of a professor and wife when your husband at one point was a well known Poet.
http://www.utulsa.edu/
Despite all their antics a value of traditional america is an underlying tone they talk of baseball. and fishing. They eat Apple Pie, Chicken , Greenbean Casserole and potatoes. This is important because the world they so badly wanted to escape is the one that provides them comfort.
http://www.pawhuskachamber.com/
The Pawhuska Journal Capital is the local newspaper. Click on the link below and go to archives to read about happenings in Pawhuska during August 2007.
http://www.pawhuskajournalcapital.com/
A total lunar eclipse occurred August 27, 2007 lasting over 90 minutes the longest and deepest in over 7 years. Below is a link to an interview on NPR with playwright Tracy Letts and his father. This gives an insight to the life of the Westons and how he devloped the play.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId
The "Weston Clan" is a symbol of the decaying Middle Class American family. You can draw a symbol of what unfortunate encounter happened to the Native American to what is going on in their life. The children have all moved away except for Ivy. When the children start moving away the family generally starts to deteriorate.
Johnna Monevata is the Indian housekeeper that Beverly hires. Below is a link to the Osage Nation to better understand her world.
http://www.osagetribe.com/
The Weston family values Education. Beverly was a professor and poet. All of the girls graduated from college and Barbara is even a Professor at University of Colorado in Boulder. Education was their freedom from the stillness of the plains.
It also is important to know a little about Boulder, Colorado because this is where Barbara, Bill and their Jean live. They are very open with their daughter who is 15 and openly smokes cigarettes and pot in front of her parents. Boulder is a very liberal city and most likely if they lived in Oklahoma Jeans life would be much different.
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/
The whole family loves mind altering substances whether it is pill, booze or pot. This is main ingrediant to Beverly and Violets relationship. In the prologue Beverly states: " My wife takes pill and I drink. That's the bargain we've struck.." Not able to deal with the harsh reality they escape daily through some substance. Violet even refers to her pill as "my best friend and they never let me down!".
They love poetry constantly quoting various poets. The family certainly represents your stereotypical frustrated poet.
For the older women Violet and Mattie Fae the role of the women are traditional mother and wife. Violet could not deal with life once all her chicks flew the coop. Mattie Fae created a situation that would not allow her son to leave home. No one wants to be alone on the plains.
The world that shaped the Westons was also Tulsa University. Tulsa is known as "little Austin" in Oklahoma. The more liberal free thinkers dwell in Tulsa. The Weston in their "day" were the family that people envied in Pawhuska. It is important to understand the role of a professor and wife when your husband at one point was a well known Poet.
http://www.utulsa.edu/
Despite all their antics a value of traditional america is an underlying tone they talk of baseball. and fishing. They eat Apple Pie, Chicken , Greenbean Casserole and potatoes. This is important because the world they so badly wanted to escape is the one that provides them comfort.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The fact of Characters in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Beverly Weston
The Father and Patriarch of the Weston family aged 69. An alcoholic and former poet, his mysterious disappearance one evening and eventually discovered death is the reasons for the family's reunion. The reasons for his alleged suicide are a major plot point that brings some of the family's dark past painfully back into the light.
Violet Weston
The Mother and Matriarch of the Weston family aged 65. She is addicted to several prescription drugs, mostly depressants and narcotics. After Beverly's funeral, the family's focus shifts to keeping her clean. Despite her drug-induced episodes, she is sharp-tongued and shrewd: she is aware of the family's many secrets and not hesitant to reveal them.
Barbara Fordham
The oldest daughter of the Weston Family, age 46. Mother of Jean and wife of Bill, though they are currently separated. She is a college professor in Boulder, Colorado. She wants to save her marriage, but has the intense need to control everything around her as it falls apart.
Ivy Weston
The middle daughter of the Weston family, age 44. Known as "Mom's favorite," though Violet constantly tells her she's plain and needs a man. The only daughter to stay in Oklahoma, she teaches at the local college. She is secretly having an affair with her "cousin," Little Charles, and plans to move to New York with him.
Karen Weston
The youngest daughter in the Weston family, age 40. She is newly engaged to Steve, whom she considers the "perfect man," and lives with him in Florida, planning to marry him soon.
Bill Fordham
Barbara's estranged husband and Jean's father, age 49. A college professor who is sleeping with one of his students, but wants to be there for his family.
Jean Fordham
Bill and Barbara's 14-year-old daughter. She smokes pot and cigarettes, is a vegetarian, loves old movies, and is bitter about her parents' split.
Steve Heidebrecht
Karen's fiancé, age 50. A businessman in Florida, and not the "perfect man" that Karen calls him. He eventually sexually molests Jean after the two smoke pot together.
Mattie Fae Aiken
Violet's sister, Charlie's wife and Little Charles' mother, age 57. Just as jaded as her sister, Mattie Fae belittles her husband and son. Eventually she reveals the major plot point that Beverly, not Charlie, is the real father of Little Charles.
Charlie Aiken
Husband of Mattie and the presumed father of Little Charles, age 60. Charlie, a genial man, was a lifelong friend of Beverly. He struggles to get Mattie Fae to respect Little Charles.
Little Charles
Son of Mattie and Beverly, 37 years old--but, like everyone else, he believes Charlie is his father. His mother calls him a "screw-up," which may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. He is secretly having an affair with his "cousin" Ivy, who is revealed to actually be his sister.
Johnna Monevata
A Cheyenne Indian woman, age 26, whom Beverly hires as a live-in housekeeper shortly before he disappears. Violet is prejudiced against her, but she wins over the other family members with her cooking skills, hard work, and empathy.
Sheriff Deon Gilbeau
A high-school classmate and former boyfriend of Barbara's, age 47, who brings the news to the family about the investigation of Beverly's disappearance.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August:_Osage_County
CASTING:
I feel that non-traditional casting of the characters would not be appropriate. An argument could be based on the issues this dysfunctional family experience drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, death, sexual harassment, racism, incest and can still maintain the ability to love one another on the notion of “unconditional love” could be placed with many families in America. However, one must look beyond the obvious and look at the culture that shaped the Weston family and how they evolved into this " Prima Donna" family in Pawhuska, OK.
Pawhuska is predominately Anglo with about a 25% Native American and little if none other ethnic background is represented in the demographics. There are far too many references in the script that would not make since to the audience if cast non-traditionally. I also feel it is important to stay true to the Playwrights intentions. Tracy Letts was born and raised in this area and he dedicated the play to his father who also was a professor at Tulsa University. His father also played Beverly in the Broadway production.
The Father and Patriarch of the Weston family aged 69. An alcoholic and former poet, his mysterious disappearance one evening and eventually discovered death is the reasons for the family's reunion. The reasons for his alleged suicide are a major plot point that brings some of the family's dark past painfully back into the light.
Violet Weston
The Mother and Matriarch of the Weston family aged 65. She is addicted to several prescription drugs, mostly depressants and narcotics. After Beverly's funeral, the family's focus shifts to keeping her clean. Despite her drug-induced episodes, she is sharp-tongued and shrewd: she is aware of the family's many secrets and not hesitant to reveal them.
Barbara Fordham
The oldest daughter of the Weston Family, age 46. Mother of Jean and wife of Bill, though they are currently separated. She is a college professor in Boulder, Colorado. She wants to save her marriage, but has the intense need to control everything around her as it falls apart.
Ivy Weston
The middle daughter of the Weston family, age 44. Known as "Mom's favorite," though Violet constantly tells her she's plain and needs a man. The only daughter to stay in Oklahoma, she teaches at the local college. She is secretly having an affair with her "cousin," Little Charles, and plans to move to New York with him.
Karen Weston
The youngest daughter in the Weston family, age 40. She is newly engaged to Steve, whom she considers the "perfect man," and lives with him in Florida, planning to marry him soon.
Bill Fordham
Barbara's estranged husband and Jean's father, age 49. A college professor who is sleeping with one of his students, but wants to be there for his family.
Jean Fordham
Bill and Barbara's 14-year-old daughter. She smokes pot and cigarettes, is a vegetarian, loves old movies, and is bitter about her parents' split.
Steve Heidebrecht
Karen's fiancé, age 50. A businessman in Florida, and not the "perfect man" that Karen calls him. He eventually sexually molests Jean after the two smoke pot together.
Mattie Fae Aiken
Violet's sister, Charlie's wife and Little Charles' mother, age 57. Just as jaded as her sister, Mattie Fae belittles her husband and son. Eventually she reveals the major plot point that Beverly, not Charlie, is the real father of Little Charles.
Charlie Aiken
Husband of Mattie and the presumed father of Little Charles, age 60. Charlie, a genial man, was a lifelong friend of Beverly. He struggles to get Mattie Fae to respect Little Charles.
Little Charles
Son of Mattie and Beverly, 37 years old--but, like everyone else, he believes Charlie is his father. His mother calls him a "screw-up," which may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. He is secretly having an affair with his "cousin" Ivy, who is revealed to actually be his sister.
Johnna Monevata
A Cheyenne Indian woman, age 26, whom Beverly hires as a live-in housekeeper shortly before he disappears. Violet is prejudiced against her, but she wins over the other family members with her cooking skills, hard work, and empathy.
Sheriff Deon Gilbeau
A high-school classmate and former boyfriend of Barbara's, age 47, who brings the news to the family about the investigation of Beverly's disappearance.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August:_Osage_County
CASTING:
I feel that non-traditional casting of the characters would not be appropriate. An argument could be based on the issues this dysfunctional family experience drug abuse, alcoholism, suicide, death, sexual harassment, racism, incest and can still maintain the ability to love one another on the notion of “unconditional love” could be placed with many families in America. However, one must look beyond the obvious and look at the culture that shaped the Weston family and how they evolved into this " Prima Donna" family in Pawhuska, OK.
Pawhuska is predominately Anglo with about a 25% Native American and little if none other ethnic background is represented in the demographics. There are far too many references in the script that would not make since to the audience if cast non-traditionally. I also feel it is important to stay true to the Playwrights intentions. Tracy Letts was born and raised in this area and he dedicated the play to his father who also was a professor at Tulsa University. His father also played Beverly in the Broadway production.
The Facts: Exegesis of: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Osage County and Pawhuska Oklahoma is a real place that is located on the Kansas border. It was settled in 1871 by the Osage tribe when they fled Kansas. Osage is the largest county in Oklahoma and is the Gateway to Tall Grass Prairie land. The American settlers were mainly German, English and Irish. To learn more about Pawhuska click below www.wildwesttour.com/communities/pawhuska.htm -
Mission Table is a round sturdy hand crafted table with a religious background. When the Spanish Monks encountered the Native Americans and began spreading the word of the Catholic Church. Missions were formed and needed furniture. The art forms heritage is strongly rooted in America and is commonly found in country homes.
Rotary Dial Telephone is a manual phone that was phased out is the 1970’s. This is important because the last time any updates were done to the house was in 1972. You can see images of a rotary dial on the following link. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_dial
Wurlitzer Electric Piano was popular during the 60’s and most popular during the 70’s much like Beverly Weston’s career. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_piano
Monevata is Indian and means “young bird” in English. This is important because this Johnnas last name who is the house keeper. That Beverly hired just before his disappearance to care for his wife. ( Prologue, page 12)
Shotgun is referred to by Steve while smoking pot with Jean and he offers a “Shotgun” that refers to a particular way a joint is smoked. By placing the lit end of the joint in a person’s mouth them blowing smoke into a recipients mouth. This has often been seen as sexual. It is like kissing but not really kissing. ( Act 3, Scene 1, page 117)
Weston is the family name and is derived from Old English and means “West Town”. Pawhuska is a part of the “Wild West”.
Pawhuska, in the Osage Indian language, means white hair. White Hair was the principal Indian chief when Pawhuska was located hence the town was named for him.(Act 1, Scene 1, page 26) www.okolha.net/anadarko_american_democrat.htm -
The Wallace Stevens Award is given annually to recognize outstanding and proven mastery in the art of poetry. Established in 1994, the award now carries a stipend of $100,000 for the recipient. No applications are accepted www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/107 - This is important because this is the award that Beverly Watson won so you can get an idea of the type of poet he was. (Act 1, Scene 3, page 45)
The beaded pouch that Johnna wears is deep Native American tradition and is common amongst those from the plains states. This shows her strong roots. www.native-languages.org/bags.htm - ( Act 1, Scene 2, page 44)
Lay Down Sally by Eric Clapton is Violets favorite song that she likes to play and dance to. I also think the lyrics are important it gives you an insight to Violet and her relationship with her husband. Clapton also struggled with his own substance abuse like Violet. Lay Down Sally is on the album Slow Hand that was released in 1977 and the #1 song was Cocaine. Violet loves this album and family members make references and jokes about Violet being a Clapton fan. This is so significant that time stood for the Weston’s after the 70’s www.lyricsdomain.com/5/eric_clapton/lay_down_sally.html - ( Act 1, Scene 3, page 55)
Tulsa University is where Beverly taught for many years and does have a recognized English Department. In the play it is referred to TU. (Act 1, Scene 1, page 27)
Lon Chaney is mentioned because Jean is watching Phantom of the Opera on T.V. after returning from her grandfather’s funeral. Lon Chaney starred in the silent film in 1925. Violet also can be looked at a Phantom in her own house. (Act 2, Scene 1, page 68)
Winston Cigarettes is what Violet smoke and was ranked #1 between 1966-1972 this is important because this was Violet and Beverly’s glory years in the art world. (Prologue, page 13)
“Here we go round the prickly pear Prickly pear prickly pear Here we go round the prickly pear” is what Beverly says at the end of the prologue before Act 1. This is the last time we see him. This line is from T.S. Eliots Of Hollow Men and is very important due to the meaning of the poem. He also gives Johnna a book of his poems. (Prologue, page 16) At the end of the play she sing to Violet “This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends….” It also is important to note the last line of that stanza is omitted "Not with a bang but a whimper." This is how Beverly chose to exit this world.Once again there is no reference to the source of the poem. The audience would gain a better insight if they knew the source but is imperative that those in the play read and understand Of Hollow Men. (Act 3, Scene 5, page 133) poetry.poetryx.com/poems/784 -
Lake Pawhuska is a 96 acre lake with clear water and a rocky shore line located 3 miles from Pawhuska on Highway 60 and 2 miles south on the county road. This is important because this is where Beverly committed suicide by drowning. This is where he loved to fish on his Pontoon boat and escape. (Act 1, Scene 4, page 51)
Country Fried Potatoes is the traditional way to make potatoes in that part of Oklahoma. This is preferred to mashed and when they say fried potatoes they do not mean French Fries. (Act 2, Scene 1, page 61)
John Berryman a poet famous for his poem Dream Songs. He was born in Oklahoma. He struggled with alcohol most his adult life like Beverly and also commited suicide when he threw himself off a bridge in Minneapolis landing on a pile of frozen rocks. It is important to understand Bev’s reference in the Prologue. (Prologue, page 10) project1.caryacademy.org/.../John_Berryman/DefaultJohn_Berryman.htm
Hart Crane a poet famous for his poem The Bridge also struggled with alcohol and also committed suicide when he leaped off the deck of the S.S. Orizba ( a ship ) in Florida. These are important references because T.S. Eliot did not commit suicide. Beverly credits Eliot for committing his first wife Viv to an asylum and “getting on with his day”.(Prologue, page 10) www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/crane/crane.htm
Doll house style archerticure that is of the Westons home date back to Europe primarly in Holland , England , Germany and England. It is often called a “play house” made up of adult things. One can also look at Henry Ibssen’s play A Doll House to reference the Weston home.familyassociatedcontent.com/.../henrik_ibsens_a_dolls_house_as_social.html -
Dilaudid is one of the many pills Violet takes and is used as a subsitute for morphine with heroine addicts. It causes a since of euphoria and has a bad reaction with ones motor skills.
Mission Table is a round sturdy hand crafted table with a religious background. When the Spanish Monks encountered the Native Americans and began spreading the word of the Catholic Church. Missions were formed and needed furniture. The art forms heritage is strongly rooted in America and is commonly found in country homes.
Rotary Dial Telephone is a manual phone that was phased out is the 1970’s. This is important because the last time any updates were done to the house was in 1972. You can see images of a rotary dial on the following link. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_dial
Wurlitzer Electric Piano was popular during the 60’s and most popular during the 70’s much like Beverly Weston’s career. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_piano
Monevata is Indian and means “young bird” in English. This is important because this Johnnas last name who is the house keeper. That Beverly hired just before his disappearance to care for his wife. ( Prologue, page 12)
Shotgun is referred to by Steve while smoking pot with Jean and he offers a “Shotgun” that refers to a particular way a joint is smoked. By placing the lit end of the joint in a person’s mouth them blowing smoke into a recipients mouth. This has often been seen as sexual. It is like kissing but not really kissing. ( Act 3, Scene 1, page 117)
Weston is the family name and is derived from Old English and means “West Town”. Pawhuska is a part of the “Wild West”.
Pawhuska, in the Osage Indian language, means white hair. White Hair was the principal Indian chief when Pawhuska was located hence the town was named for him.(Act 1, Scene 1, page 26) www.okolha.net/anadarko_american_democrat.htm -
The Wallace Stevens Award is given annually to recognize outstanding and proven mastery in the art of poetry. Established in 1994, the award now carries a stipend of $100,000 for the recipient. No applications are accepted www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/107 - This is important because this is the award that Beverly Watson won so you can get an idea of the type of poet he was. (Act 1, Scene 3, page 45)
The beaded pouch that Johnna wears is deep Native American tradition and is common amongst those from the plains states. This shows her strong roots. www.native-languages.org/bags.htm - ( Act 1, Scene 2, page 44)
Lay Down Sally by Eric Clapton is Violets favorite song that she likes to play and dance to. I also think the lyrics are important it gives you an insight to Violet and her relationship with her husband. Clapton also struggled with his own substance abuse like Violet. Lay Down Sally is on the album Slow Hand that was released in 1977 and the #1 song was Cocaine. Violet loves this album and family members make references and jokes about Violet being a Clapton fan. This is so significant that time stood for the Weston’s after the 70’s www.lyricsdomain.com/5/eric_clapton/lay_down_sally.html - ( Act 1, Scene 3, page 55)
Tulsa University is where Beverly taught for many years and does have a recognized English Department. In the play it is referred to TU. (Act 1, Scene 1, page 27)
Lon Chaney is mentioned because Jean is watching Phantom of the Opera on T.V. after returning from her grandfather’s funeral. Lon Chaney starred in the silent film in 1925. Violet also can be looked at a Phantom in her own house. (Act 2, Scene 1, page 68)
Winston Cigarettes is what Violet smoke and was ranked #1 between 1966-1972 this is important because this was Violet and Beverly’s glory years in the art world. (Prologue, page 13)
“Here we go round the prickly pear Prickly pear prickly pear Here we go round the prickly pear” is what Beverly says at the end of the prologue before Act 1. This is the last time we see him. This line is from T.S. Eliots Of Hollow Men and is very important due to the meaning of the poem. He also gives Johnna a book of his poems. (Prologue, page 16) At the end of the play she sing to Violet “This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends….” It also is important to note the last line of that stanza is omitted "Not with a bang but a whimper." This is how Beverly chose to exit this world.Once again there is no reference to the source of the poem. The audience would gain a better insight if they knew the source but is imperative that those in the play read and understand Of Hollow Men. (Act 3, Scene 5, page 133) poetry.poetryx.com/poems/784 -
Lake Pawhuska is a 96 acre lake with clear water and a rocky shore line located 3 miles from Pawhuska on Highway 60 and 2 miles south on the county road. This is important because this is where Beverly committed suicide by drowning. This is where he loved to fish on his Pontoon boat and escape. (Act 1, Scene 4, page 51)
Country Fried Potatoes is the traditional way to make potatoes in that part of Oklahoma. This is preferred to mashed and when they say fried potatoes they do not mean French Fries. (Act 2, Scene 1, page 61)
John Berryman a poet famous for his poem Dream Songs. He was born in Oklahoma. He struggled with alcohol most his adult life like Beverly and also commited suicide when he threw himself off a bridge in Minneapolis landing on a pile of frozen rocks. It is important to understand Bev’s reference in the Prologue. (Prologue, page 10) project1.caryacademy.org/.../John_Berryman/DefaultJohn_Berryman.htm
Hart Crane a poet famous for his poem The Bridge also struggled with alcohol and also committed suicide when he leaped off the deck of the S.S. Orizba ( a ship ) in Florida. These are important references because T.S. Eliot did not commit suicide. Beverly credits Eliot for committing his first wife Viv to an asylum and “getting on with his day”.(Prologue, page 10) www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/crane/crane.htm
Doll house style archerticure that is of the Westons home date back to Europe primarly in Holland , England , Germany and England. It is often called a “play house” made up of adult things. One can also look at Henry Ibssen’s play A Doll House to reference the Weston home.familyassociatedcontent.com/.../henrik_ibsens_a_dolls_house_as_social.html -
Dilaudid is one of the many pills Violet takes and is used as a subsitute for morphine with heroine addicts. It causes a since of euphoria and has a bad reaction with ones motor skills.
The Facts:AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Title: August: Osage County
Author: Tracy Letts
Original language: English
Date of Original Publication: January, 2008
Genre: Dark Comedy
Length: 3 Acts running time 3 hours 15 minutes
Controlling License : Dramatist
Royalty Fees: $75 per performance
Cast Break down:
Male: 6 Characters
Female: 7 Characters
Bios of Tracy Letts:
Tracy Letts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tracy Letts (born July 4, 1965, Tulsa, Oklahoma) [1] is an American playwright and actor. He has been an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts
Tracy Letts: Ensemble Member Bio Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Tracy Letts first appeared on the Steppenwolf stage in the Steppenwolf for Young Adults production of The Glass Menagerie. Some of Tracy?s performances at ...
http://www.steppenwolf.org/ensemble/members/details.aspx?id=41
Tracy Letts News - The New York Times
News about Tracy Letts. Commentary and archival information about Tracy Letts from The New York Times. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/tracy_letts/index.html?inline=nyt-per
Plot Summary:
Briefly stated, the plot of "August: Osage County" involves a family reunion of a contemporary Oklahoma family, the dysfunctional Westons: the alcoholic and nihilistic patriarch Beverly, a retired professor and erstwhile poet who disappears and subsequently dies, apparently from suicide (the role played until his incapacitating illness by Dennis Letts); the matriarch Violet, suffering from cancer and addicted to prescription drugs and sadistic rhetoric; their three middle-aged daughters (Barbara, unhappily married to a college professor who is having an affair with one of his students; Ivy, whom her mother suspects of being a lesbian but who is involved in an incestuous affair with a male relative; and Karen, whose self-delusion allows her to believe her latest fiance, who smokes pot, molests a teenage girl and has been married three times, is a "perfect man"); a 14-year-old granddaughter Jean, who smokes marijuana and prides herself on not being a virgin; plus a set of in-laws featuring a domineering woman who has emasculated and cuckolded her husband and constantly belittles her son. Given this summary, it is not surprising that one reviewer lists the cast of characters as "pill-poppers, potheads, bed-hoppers, cradle-robbers, suicides and drunks."
www.semissourian.com/article/20080713/OPINION01/939035185/-1/RSS -
Author: Tracy Letts
Original language: English
Date of Original Publication: January, 2008
Genre: Dark Comedy
Length: 3 Acts running time 3 hours 15 minutes
Controlling License : Dramatist
Royalty Fees: $75 per performance
Cast Break down:
Male: 6 Characters
Female: 7 Characters
Bios of Tracy Letts:
Tracy Letts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tracy Letts (born July 4, 1965, Tulsa, Oklahoma) [1] is an American playwright and actor. He has been an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts
Tracy Letts: Ensemble Member Bio Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Tracy Letts first appeared on the Steppenwolf stage in the Steppenwolf for Young Adults production of The Glass Menagerie. Some of Tracy?s performances at ...
http://www.steppenwolf.org/ensemble/members/details.aspx?id=41
Tracy Letts News - The New York Times
News about Tracy Letts. Commentary and archival information about Tracy Letts from The New York Times. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/tracy_letts/index.html?inline=nyt-per
Plot Summary:
Briefly stated, the plot of "August: Osage County" involves a family reunion of a contemporary Oklahoma family, the dysfunctional Westons: the alcoholic and nihilistic patriarch Beverly, a retired professor and erstwhile poet who disappears and subsequently dies, apparently from suicide (the role played until his incapacitating illness by Dennis Letts); the matriarch Violet, suffering from cancer and addicted to prescription drugs and sadistic rhetoric; their three middle-aged daughters (Barbara, unhappily married to a college professor who is having an affair with one of his students; Ivy, whom her mother suspects of being a lesbian but who is involved in an incestuous affair with a male relative; and Karen, whose self-delusion allows her to believe her latest fiance, who smokes pot, molests a teenage girl and has been married three times, is a "perfect man"); a 14-year-old granddaughter Jean, who smokes marijuana and prides herself on not being a virgin; plus a set of in-laws featuring a domineering woman who has emasculated and cuckolded her husband and constantly belittles her son. Given this summary, it is not surprising that one reviewer lists the cast of characters as "pill-poppers, potheads, bed-hoppers, cradle-robbers, suicides and drunks."
www.semissourian.com/article/20080713/OPINION01/939035185/-1/RSS -
Friday, July 11, 2008
Graduate Degree Programs
Schools offering MA or MFA degrees in Dramaturgy are:
University of Kent in England the name of the degree is MA Theatre Dramaturgy 60 credit hours or 2 years. The most notable feature of this program is they work with professional theatres and also allow the student to pursue their own areas of interest.
University of Iowa in Iowa City offers a MFA with 64 credit hours. They focus on teaching the student how to help develop a new work and have playwrights come in residence the students help develop the new play
Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana offers a MFA 60 credit hours over 3 years.
Kent State University in Kent Ohio offers a MFA 60-73 hours and must include 2 professional internships
Hunter College in New York City offers a MFA 30-credits they are employed as dramaturges by the college and will collaborate with playwright during their annual festival.
Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec offers a MFA with 72-credits. They work with professional Canadian Theatres while completing their degree
California State in Long Beach, California offers a MFA with 60-units. They work with California Repertory that is an extension the department and are a professional equity theatre.
Depaul University in Chicago, Illinois offers a MFA a 3 year program and students intern with Chicago theatres.
Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia offers a Mlitt/MFA. The first the student studies scholarly and theatrical conventions of modern theatre. In the second year declare emphasis in Dramaturgy and complete 36 hours.
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama offers a MFA a 3 years program the students both apprentice literary managers and dramaturges for new play readings and productions. They also may complete the 3rd year with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
University of Kent in England the name of the degree is MA Theatre Dramaturgy 60 credit hours or 2 years. The most notable feature of this program is they work with professional theatres and also allow the student to pursue their own areas of interest.
University of Iowa in Iowa City offers a MFA with 64 credit hours. They focus on teaching the student how to help develop a new work and have playwrights come in residence the students help develop the new play
Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana offers a MFA 60 credit hours over 3 years.
Kent State University in Kent Ohio offers a MFA 60-73 hours and must include 2 professional internships
Hunter College in New York City offers a MFA 30-credits they are employed as dramaturges by the college and will collaborate with playwright during their annual festival.
Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec offers a MFA with 72-credits. They work with professional Canadian Theatres while completing their degree
California State in Long Beach, California offers a MFA with 60-units. They work with California Repertory that is an extension the department and are a professional equity theatre.
Depaul University in Chicago, Illinois offers a MFA a 3 year program and students intern with Chicago theatres.
Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia offers a Mlitt/MFA. The first the student studies scholarly and theatrical conventions of modern theatre. In the second year declare emphasis in Dramaturgy and complete 36 hours.
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama offers a MFA a 3 years program the students both apprentice literary managers and dramaturges for new play readings and productions. They also may complete the 3rd year with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Dramaturg as a Profession
The following is a list of LORT Theatres that employee dramaturges:
Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Alabama has Susan Wilis on staff as a Dramaturge. This is a class C and D LORT.
Center Stage located in Baltimore, Maryland is a class B/C LORT Theatre. Drew Lichtenberg is one of three Dramaturges on staff. Center Stage was awarded a 2 million dollar grant from the Andrew W. Mellon foundations to establish the nation’s first dramaturge endowment.
The Clarence Brown Theatre located in Knoxville, Tennessee is a class D LORT Theatre. This is affiliated with University of Tennessee and is only 1 of 17 universities nationwide that are a member of LORT.
The Actors Theatre of Louisville located in Louisville, Kentucky is a class B/D LORT Theatre. Julie Dubiner is the resident dramaturge. Future Dramaturges can do their internship here but you must submit a 10 page written paper of your work first.
The Alley Theatre located in Houston, Texas is a class B/C LORT Theatre. Mark Bly is the Senior Dramaturge and director of new play and development. This is where I took my first acting lesson at the ripe age of 10 and was cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland.
The American Repertory Theatre located in Cambridge, Massachusetts is a class B LORT Theatre. Arthur Holberg is the Literary Director. Each summer they participate in Shakespeare on The Square where the join the Actors Shakespeare Project and Revel Theatre and perform to the public for free.
The Berkley Repertory Theatre located in Berkley, California is class B LORT Theatre and Madeline Oldham is their Literary Director/Dramaturg. Last year they brought their show Passing Strange to New York where they won numerous awards.
The Cleveland Playhouse is a class C LORT Theatre located in Cleveland, Ohio and Seth Gordon is Associate Artistic Director/Literary Director. This is to be the oldest theatre in the country and Roni Reed who won a Tony for her role in August: Osage County is an alumnus.
The Goodman Theatre located in Chicago, Illinois is class B+/D LORT Theatre and Tanya Palmer is their Literary Director. In 1992 the Goodman won a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre
Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Alabama has Susan Wilis on staff as a Dramaturge. This is a class C and D LORT.
Center Stage located in Baltimore, Maryland is a class B/C LORT Theatre. Drew Lichtenberg is one of three Dramaturges on staff. Center Stage was awarded a 2 million dollar grant from the Andrew W. Mellon foundations to establish the nation’s first dramaturge endowment.
The Clarence Brown Theatre located in Knoxville, Tennessee is a class D LORT Theatre. This is affiliated with University of Tennessee and is only 1 of 17 universities nationwide that are a member of LORT.
The Actors Theatre of Louisville located in Louisville, Kentucky is a class B/D LORT Theatre. Julie Dubiner is the resident dramaturge. Future Dramaturges can do their internship here but you must submit a 10 page written paper of your work first.
The Alley Theatre located in Houston, Texas is a class B/C LORT Theatre. Mark Bly is the Senior Dramaturge and director of new play and development. This is where I took my first acting lesson at the ripe age of 10 and was cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland.
The American Repertory Theatre located in Cambridge, Massachusetts is a class B LORT Theatre. Arthur Holberg is the Literary Director. Each summer they participate in Shakespeare on The Square where the join the Actors Shakespeare Project and Revel Theatre and perform to the public for free.
The Berkley Repertory Theatre located in Berkley, California is class B LORT Theatre and Madeline Oldham is their Literary Director/Dramaturg. Last year they brought their show Passing Strange to New York where they won numerous awards.
The Cleveland Playhouse is a class C LORT Theatre located in Cleveland, Ohio and Seth Gordon is Associate Artistic Director/Literary Director. This is to be the oldest theatre in the country and Roni Reed who won a Tony for her role in August: Osage County is an alumnus.
The Goodman Theatre located in Chicago, Illinois is class B+/D LORT Theatre and Tanya Palmer is their Literary Director. In 1992 the Goodman won a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre
What is Dramaturgy?
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Some dramatists combine writing and dramaturgy when creating a drama. Others work with a specialist, called a dramaturge, to adapt a work to the stage. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramaturgy
Definiton from Dictionary:
Dramaturg. One who studies a play to interpret it for a company of actors, answering questions about the text, the language, the period, the manners and mores of the characters, the clothing, and the customs. He or she may share in selecting plays, their revisions, or adaptations; choosing translations; writing program notes; www.actorchecklist.com/resources/dramaturg
The most unusual definition:
The dramaturg’s task, essentially, is to sit between chairs and to build bridges: between theory and practice; between the director, the actors, and the script and/or playwright; between artistic intention and the realities of the budget; and not the least between a theatre, its productions, and the audience. This course develops and rehearses these multiple roles and proficiencies, from production dramaturgy to PR-work, from scholarly background research to budgeting, producing and creative programming, with which dramaturgs help to realise, support, and publicise productions that genuinely fulfil theatre’s cultural function as a place for a society’s self-reflection and critical inspiration rather than as mere outlet for cultural commodities and fast-food entertainment. www.kent.ac.uk
Brief History:
Lately Aristotle has been applied in numerous tv- and filmwriting guides, and the courses of "basic dramaturgy" usually rely heavily on Aristotle's thoughts.
In western canon the seminal work is Poetics by Aristotle (written around 350
BC)A dramaturge or dramaturg is a position within a theatre that deals mainly with research and development. It has gained its modern-day function through the innovations of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, a playwright and theatre practitioner who worked in Germany in the 18th century .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramaturgy
Various Job Descriptions:
A thorough text/story analysis.
Research into the prior productions of the text as needed.
Historical research of various sorts.
Attendance at at least one quarter of the rehearsals, the first read-through, and as many run-throughs as possible.
Oral or written notes for the director.
http://www.dramaturgy.net/dramaturgy/what/Job.html
Dramaturgs often are labeled Literay Managers:
In a company which accepts script submissions from playwrights, a Literary Managers primary task is usually to deal with (or oversee the dealing with) those scripts. Each script needs to be read and reported on.
The Literary Manager makes recommends scripts to the artistic director for production.
In companies with "play development" programs, the Literary Manager oversees these programs. These can include workshops or public reading of scripts, or other forms of supporting a playwright's process in crafting a new script. www.dramaturgy.net
When working with a playwright or tranlsation of a play:
resident playwright
critic
liaison with other playwrights
verifier of authenticity
deconstructionist
adviser on repertory
text preparation and oversight
translation and adaptation
After performances:
conducting audience discussions and related work in conjunction with the marketing and media departments
script evaluation and communication with writers and agents
www.actorchecklist.com
My Definition:
A Dramaturg possess a variety of skills and gains an extreme insight to the play. He or She must work between the director, actors and playwright to help bring the play to fruition with a specific mission. This will help make it understandable to the
audience. A dramaturg should be a walking encloypedia of the production at hand so questions that arise during the rehearsal process can quickly be answered. So they can quickly get back to the task at hand.
Definiton from Dictionary:
Dramaturg. One who studies a play to interpret it for a company of actors, answering questions about the text, the language, the period, the manners and mores of the characters, the clothing, and the customs. He or she may share in selecting plays, their revisions, or adaptations; choosing translations; writing program notes; www.actorchecklist.com/resources/dramaturg
The most unusual definition:
The dramaturg’s task, essentially, is to sit between chairs and to build bridges: between theory and practice; between the director, the actors, and the script and/or playwright; between artistic intention and the realities of the budget; and not the least between a theatre, its productions, and the audience. This course develops and rehearses these multiple roles and proficiencies, from production dramaturgy to PR-work, from scholarly background research to budgeting, producing and creative programming, with which dramaturgs help to realise, support, and publicise productions that genuinely fulfil theatre’s cultural function as a place for a society’s self-reflection and critical inspiration rather than as mere outlet for cultural commodities and fast-food entertainment. www.kent.ac.uk
Brief History:
Lately Aristotle has been applied in numerous tv- and filmwriting guides, and the courses of "basic dramaturgy" usually rely heavily on Aristotle's thoughts.
In western canon the seminal work is Poetics by Aristotle (written around 350
BC)A dramaturge or dramaturg is a position within a theatre that deals mainly with research and development. It has gained its modern-day function through the innovations of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, a playwright and theatre practitioner who worked in Germany in the 18th century .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramaturgy
Various Job Descriptions:
A thorough text/story analysis.
Research into the prior productions of the text as needed.
Historical research of various sorts.
Attendance at at least one quarter of the rehearsals, the first read-through, and as many run-throughs as possible.
Oral or written notes for the director.
http://www.dramaturgy.net/dramaturgy/what/Job.html
Dramaturgs often are labeled Literay Managers:
In a company which accepts script submissions from playwrights, a Literary Managers primary task is usually to deal with (or oversee the dealing with) those scripts. Each script needs to be read and reported on.
The Literary Manager makes recommends scripts to the artistic director for production.
In companies with "play development" programs, the Literary Manager oversees these programs. These can include workshops or public reading of scripts, or other forms of supporting a playwright's process in crafting a new script. www.dramaturgy.net
When working with a playwright or tranlsation of a play:
resident playwright
critic
liaison with other playwrights
verifier of authenticity
deconstructionist
adviser on repertory
text preparation and oversight
translation and adaptation
After performances:
conducting audience discussions and related work in conjunction with the marketing and media departments
script evaluation and communication with writers and agents
www.actorchecklist.com
My Definition:
A Dramaturg possess a variety of skills and gains an extreme insight to the play. He or She must work between the director, actors and playwright to help bring the play to fruition with a specific mission. This will help make it understandable to the
audience. A dramaturg should be a walking encloypedia of the production at hand so questions that arise during the rehearsal process can quickly be answered. So they can quickly get back to the task at hand.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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