Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

The Tony Award nominations were announced today, and I’m happy to say that Steppenwolf’s production of August: Osage County was well-represented, garnering nominations in the following categories:

• Best Play (Tracy Letts)
• Best Direction of a Play (Anna Shapiro)
• Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Deanna Dunagan and Amy Morton)
• Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Rondi Reed)
• Best Scenic Design of a Play (Todd Rosenthal)
• Best Lighting Design of a Play (Ann G. Wrightson)

I was thrilled when the awards were announced this morning. Like perhaps many people in the American theater, I’ve got a starry-eyed little teen-aged drama geek hidden away inside of me. I’ve covered her up over the years with layer upon layer of theatrical sophistication, but deep down she’s still there, practicing her Tony Award acceptance speech in the mirror. For that girl, the fact that I’ll see my theater and people I know at the televised Tony Awards Ceremony represents the pinnacle of achievement. (more…)

Ensemble members Martha Lavey and Tracy Letts at Monday’s press conference after Tracy won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play August: Osage County.

We’re pleased to announce that Tracy Letts received the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play August: Osage County today. As you may know, the prize is awarded annually “for a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life.” As an award-winner, Tracy joins the company of the most eminent playwrights of the American theater, including Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Thorton Wilder, Tony Kushner, and Sam Shepard. We extend our warmest congratulations to Tracy for this honor.

So, it’s a day of celebration here in the Steppenwolf offices. We couldn’t be more proud of Tracy. And the success of August: Osage County is particularly meaningful as the play exemplifies the very heart of Steppenwolf’s mission. Commissioned as part of our New Plays Initiative, its development process reflected our philosophy that new play development must be tailored to the individual playwright’s needs and geared toward production. At each step along the way — from the first reading to the production now running on Broadway — August gained vitality through the participation of an ensemble of artists with a long history of collaboration. Finally, August’s success was contingent upon the culture of risk-taking that we on the staff are proud to share with you in our audience. Many theaters might have balked at August’s ensemble of thirteen, and many audiences may have shied away from an unknown new play clocking in at three plus hours. Together, in the belief that innovation requires a little audacity, we took a chance and embraced this play. On this celebratory day, please take a moment with us to enjoy the success you helped to create.

Dennis Letts, actor in August: Osage County, and father of ensemble member Tracy Letts, passed away this past Friday, February the 22nd. Dennis taught writing and literature in several colleges and universities, including Southeastern Oklahoma State University, before he began acting professionally at age 50, appearing in numerous films, television shows, and theater productions. It was a joy for Steppenwolf that Dennis became a part of the theater’s life.

Tracy has written the following words about his dad:

“My father was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in September of last year, following the Chicago run of August: Osage County and prior to the Broadway transfer. His choice to persevere with the New York production in the face of his devastating diagnosis is a testament to his love for the project and the people involved. Dad had a full and fascinating life, and August: Osage County was the cherry on top. My family will be forever grateful for the many kindnesses shown to Dad by the wonderful people associated with the production.”

The giddy highs of opening night and crazy-good reviews had us floating for a couple weeks before reality set back in…In the world of challenges we’ve been fighting cast colds, flu, throat infections, stomach flus for 2 or 3 weeks…and many of us felt the first long run repetition “wall,” which I guess I would describe as a mental/emotional resistance to successfully pretending that you don’t know the story you are telling—because of course one of the fundamental tasks for us actors is to trick our brains and hearts into nightly innocence as to what will ensue…So, for a bit there, many or most of us were hanging on by our fingernails physically, emotionally and mentally to try and survive–much less fulfill–this beautiful play 8 times a week…BUT, I think for the most part we are all feeling better on all fronts and having fun again…thank god! (more…)