THE FRIDAY FIVE: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY's Kraski, Osborne and Sasser
By: Jeffrey Ellis Nov. 06, 2015
Opening at Darkhorse Theater tonight is ACT 1's production of Tracy Letts' award-winning August: Osage County, about a dysfunctional family coming to terms with one another. Starring a veritable who's who of Nashville theater, under the direction of Bradley Moore, it's an eagerly anticipated production debuting during one of the season's busiest weekends.
Leading the cast are three stage veterans who have been delighting local audiences for years: Debbie Kraski, Dietz Osborne and Layne Sasser, three names that are sure to attract the attention of theater-goers in the Nashville area. They agreed to take on our Friday Five questions in anticipation of tonight's opening, giving answers we feel certain will encourage you to go see them in their latest onstage adventure.
What was your first taste of "live, onstage" theater? I played Sister Margaretta in The Sound Of Music as a freshman.
What's your favorite pre-show ritual? I go over what I missed or fucked up the day before! Don't pretend you don't miss shit if you're reading this!
What's your most memorable "the show must go on..." experience? I was playing Daisy Mae in Li'l Abner and for some stupid reason they went to the side of the highway to cut down brambles and weeds for the set. After the chase scene it would kick up pollen and I'd have to try to sing past my prime, while gagging my head off, but I plowed through. Not a good time to discover you have allergies.
What's your dream role? Since I doubt I'll ever get to be Sweeney, I guess Mrs. Lovett.
Who's your theatrical crush? Shemar Moore and Tom Cruise.
Bonus: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise most people. I fell out of a moving car and landed on my face on a highway when I was four years old, and have had seizures my whole life because of it.
What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? My grandparents bought me tickets to the see the national tour of Cats. I hated it.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I always brush my teeth before going on stage.
What's your most memorable "the show must go on..." experience? We were doing Deathtrap at Chaffin's Barn and the stage lights blew. I marched up the aisle into the lobby, turned on the house and table lights, went back down to the stage and continued the scene. We had to finish the show without stage lights.
What's your dream role? Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Billy Flynn in Chicago. Thankfully, I've gotten to play both of them.
Who's your theatrical crush? Jenny Littleton.
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I've gotten to the point that I don't love to go see theatre. If I see a show, I have to really want to see it, or if I'm going to catch an incredible amount of crap for not seeing it.
What was your first "live, onstage" taste of theater? My first live onstage experience was as "Old Tyb" in Jack and the Beanstalk at Norfolk Children's Theatre. They had adult actors and brought kids in for minor roles. It and the adults made magic in my soul!
What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My favorite pre-show ritual is to review my script. I've always done this - not just in my old age lines on my face/not in my head!
What's your most memorable "the show must go on..." experience? I think my most memorable shows were The Boys Next Door and A Shayna Maidel. They both had subjects and characters deeply important to me.
What's your dream role? My dream role would be Mame...but without the singing!
Who's your theatrical crush? My theatrical crushes are Bette Midler, Kathy Bates, Jesse L. Martin, Tim Curry, and Taye Diggs. Taye is just mostly for the 'HOT' component.
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I think people would be surprised to know that I was a prolific playwright in middle and high school. I would bother teachers until they would allow a performance. Thank goodness, the plays were short, and I always directed and starred in them!
ABOUT THE SHOW: Tracy Letts' acclaimed play about a dysfunctional family coming to terms with one another - August: Osage County - opens at Nashville's iconic Darkhorse Theater on November 6, directed by Bradley Moore and featuring a veritable who's who of Nashville actors. August: Osage County, running through November 21, is presented by ACT 1 as its second show of the 2015-16 season.
In Letts' play, the mystery of their missing father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara, Karen and Ivy - along with their significant others and various other kinfolk - feel the full force of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, as Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Director Bradley Moore had assembled a reputable group of storytellers/actors to bring this story of family dysfunction to life onstage, including Debbie Kraski as Violet Weston, Layne Sasser as Mattie Fae Aiken, David Arnold as Charlie Aiken, Dietz Osborne as Bill Fordham and Cat Arnold as Barbara Fordham.Completing Moore's ensemble are Rob Wilds, Taylor Novak, Jenna Pryor, Jess Miller, Elizabeth Ayers Turner, Dollie Mayfield, Gerald Pitts and Kurt Jarvis. Show dates and times are: November 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Novermber 8 and 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Avene, Nashville. For ticket information and other details, go to www.act1online.com. August: Osage County is intended for mature audiences.
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