Friday, May 13, 2011

Critical Review


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August: Osage County has been deemed “the first American classic of the 21st century.” It premiered as an original production at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, USA on June 28, 2007, written by Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Tracy Letts specifically for the Steppenwolf Ensemble Family. The show quickly gained national recognition, transferring to Broadway a few months later with 11 of its original 13 cast members.

The show previewed on Broadway on October 30, 2007, running for 18 previews, and officially opened on Broadway’s Imperial Theatre on December 4, 2007 where it ran until April 20, 2009. The show then transferred to the Music Box Theatre on April 29, 2008 where it ran until June 28, 2009 for a total of 648 Broadway performances. Soon after the play ran at the National Theatre in London and ran as a National Tour across the United States.

The play has received many of theatre’s most prestigious awards, including the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play, 2008 Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play, 2008 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play, 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play, 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and 2008 Tony Award for Best Play. August: Osage County’s other Tony Awards include Anna D. Shapiro for Best Direction of a Play, Deanna Dunagan for Best Actress in a Play, Rondi Reed for Best Featured Actress in a Play, and Todd Rosenthal for Best Scenic Design of a Play. A film adaptation for August: Osage County starring Meryl Streep as “Violet” and Julia Roberts as “Barbara” is currently in production and set for release in 2013.

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