August: Osage County (play)

CIVIC THEATRE OF ALLENTOWN PRESENTS “AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY”

2008 Pulitzer Winner Debuts on March 1 for Six Performances

Allentown, PA— Civic Theatre continues its 2012-2013 mainstage season with the Lehigh Valley premiere of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winning play “August: Osage County” --opening on Friday, March 1 with performances through Sunday, March 10. Civic’s artistic director William Sanders directs this “turbo-charged tragicomedy” (The New York Times) written by award-winning actor and playwright Tracy Letts. All performances will be held at Civic's historic Nineteenth Street Theatre at 527 N. 19th Street in Allentown.

Winner of five Tony Awards, this shocking play explores the dysfunctional Weston family, who reunite in Oklahoma following the mysterious disappearance of their patriarch. Uproariously hilarious and crushingly sad, this black comedy will take you on an unforgettable roller coaster ride. When the show opened in New York in 2007, the New York Times hailed the play as an instant classic noting it was "without qualifications, the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years. Fiercely funny and bitingly sad, this turbo-charged tragicomedy...doesn't just jump-start the fall theater season, August throws it instantaneously into high gear."

"August: Osage County" is a rare theatrical event — one rarely found in modern theatre with its economic-minded approach to drama  -- a large-scale work filled with unforgettable characters, and a powerful tale told with unflinching honesty.

“Just when you think it can’t get more horrifying, it does,” said William Sanders, Civic's Artistic Director, who has wanted to direct “August” ever since he saw it on Broadway. Sanders praised Letts’ writing, and called it “muscular.” “He knows these people so well and creates such an amazing tapestry, that I was immediately drawn to doing it here,” said Sanders.

“August” stars Becky Engborg as the drug-addled Violet. Engborg gave a “wonderfully effective” (The Morning Call) performance as Katherine Brandt in Civic’s 2012 production of “33 Variations.” The rest of the “August” cast includes: Bill Joachim, Kirk Lawrence, Gretchen Furst, Jan Labellarte, John Kuchar, Meggan Gomez, Merce Tonne, Meredith Lipson, Pat Kelly, Sue Sneeringer, Tom Onushco, and Troy Brokenshire.

Letts’ other work includes: “Man From Nebraska,” “Bug,” “Killer Joe,” “Superior Donuts,” and “Three Sisters.”  He has also acted in several plays, including “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?,” which is currently on Broadway. Letts recently completed a screenplay adaptation of “August,” which is in production and stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts and is being produced by George Clooney. The film will be released later this year.

Civic Theatre is a non-profit organization that has produced high-quality live productions for the Lehigh Valley for decades; all productions are performed in our 1928 Art Deco Theater. And with 450 annual screenings of acclaimed art films, documentaries, and independent films, Civic Theatre is a cultural gem in the heart of Allentown’s West End neighborhood.

"August: Osage County" is for mature audiences. Contains language and situations that may not be suitable for all audiences. Parental discretion is advised.