August: Osage County Grabs The 2008 Drama Pulitzer

It was announced on Monday, April 7 that Tracy Letts' dysfunctional-family drama "August: Osage County" won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; beating out Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalists Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang and Dying City by Christopher Shinn.

The play debuted to strong reviews in its initial run at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, which opened on June 28, 2007. Originally scheduled as a limited run until August 26, the show was quickly transferred to Broadway for a run at the Imperial Theatre.

There it has garnered even more acclaim, and was chosen as the best play of the year by both Time Magazine and Entertainment Weekly. In March of 2008 it was announced that August would transfer to the Music Box Theatre (literally next door) for a quietly open-ended run.

The Pulitzer win marks a significant step up for the career of playwright Tracy Letts. Although the writer has had a play in contention for the Pulitzer once before (Man from Nebraska), his playwrighting history before August: Osage County was otherwise limited to two small off-Broadway productions. Letts joins past Drama Prize winners David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), John Patrick Shanley (Doubt), David Auburn (Proof), Jonathan Larson (Rent), Tony Kushner (Angels In America), and many many more.

Sadly, the show has already seen its share of tragedy, having lost principal cast member Dennis Letts during its Broadway run. The originator of the role of Beverly Wilton - and real-life father to Tracy - succumbed on February 22, 2008 to lung cancer. Although ill, the 73 year old had continued to perform on stage for eight shows a week until just a few days before his death.

Directed by Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County features Ian Barford, Deanna Dunagan, Kimberly Guerrero, Francis Guinan, Brian Kerwin, Madeleine Martin, Mariann Mayberry, Amy Morton, Sally Murphy, Jeff Perry, Rondi Reed and Troy West. Michael McGuire recently joined the cast as patriarch Beverly Weston, succeeding Dennis Letts.

For ticket and showtime information, visit www.augustonbroadway.com

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