PONCA PLAYHOUSE plans to present Pulitzer and Tony award winning play “August: Osage County” by Oklahoma playwright Tracy Letts in late July. Casting auditions will be held on May 21, 29, and 30. The play features 13 characters in numerous storylines running parallel to one another through the drama of family dysfunction.
Ponca Playhouse has announced that their “Oklahoma Pride” presentation this summer will be the Pulitzer and Tony award winning play “August: Osage County” by Oklahoma playwright Tracy Letts.
“This will be the first production of the 2007 play performed in Northern Oklahoma,” says Producer Hugh Pickens who is also sponsoring the play. “The play will be performed only 60 miles away from the actual location where the play takes place.”
The Pulitzer-Prize-winning play features 13 characters, numerous storylines running parallel to one another and enough family dysfunction and drama to fill a season of reality-based television. The story centers around the Weston clan and an impromptu reunion after the disappearance of its patriarch Beverly.
“The story of this family is pretty universal,” says playwright Tracy Letts. “The dinner scene alone, in the theater: I can tell you that some people are howling with laughter, and other people are in tears crawling under their seats — they find it very upsetting to watch because it hits pretty close to home.”
“Their gathering is like several tornadoes of resentment and combative family ties colliding into a perfect storm that leaves nothing standing. Clocking in at three-plus hours, the audience gets the brewing storm, its destructive force and the shell-shocked aftermath,” wrote Ramsey Scott. “At its best, Vintage’s incarnation of ‘August: Osage County’ is the perfect example of why local theater should never shy away from a challenging show. It can make the audience erupt in laughter one moment and then squirm in their seats the next as this family, so full of anger and pain, communicates almost exclusively through sharp-as-knife barbs and physical violence.”
“We understand that this play is controversial but we are convinced that ‘August: Osage County’ is a play that every theatergoer should experience at least once live. The movie really does not do the play justice,” says Pickens. “Patrons of Ponca Playhouse should understand that there is strong language and strong emotions in August: Osage County. This is a play for adults and children will not be admitted to the production. Nonetheless, we believe that part of our mission at the Playhouse is to challenge our audience and this is a play that certainly meets that criteria — in spades.”
“August: Osage County” is not a part of our regular Playhouse season. Tickets will be sold separately and will go on sale on our web site in early summer.
“August: Osage County” will be presented at Ponca Playhouse at our Black Box Theatre at 301 South 1st Street on July 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, and 29.
Auditions for “August: Osage County” are scheduled for May 21, 29, and 30.
Lance Garrett will direct the production.