AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY At Curran Theatre Tickets Go On Sale 5/17

August: Osage County, a brand new dynamic family drama and winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and five 2008 Tony Awards, will play the Curran Theatre beginning August 11 through September 6. Tickets for August: Osage County will go on sale Sunday, May 17. August: Osage County is presented as a part of the 2008-2009 Citibank Best of Broadway series under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays.

August: Osage County stars Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet. Ms. Parsons reprises her unforgettable Broadway role for San Francisco audiences.

The New York Times recently raved, "Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career."

Estelle Parsons first foray into the business began when she was hired by "The Today Show," first as a production assistant, then staff writer, which eventually led her to become the first female television network political news reporter.

Estelle began acting and appeared in her first stage performance on Broadway in Happy Hunting. Since then, Estelle has gone on to either star in or direct over 25 productions. Most notably, she has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Miss Margarida's Way and Mornings at Seven.

Estelle's first film role was in Ladybug, Ladybug. Her performance in Bonnie & Clyde garnered an Academy Award and she was nominated again the following year for her work in Rachel, Rachel. Other film performances include Don't Drink the Water, I Walk the Line , I Never Sang for My Father, Watermelon Man , For Pete's Sake , Dick Tracy, Boys on the Side and Looking for Richard.

On television, Estelle appeared in "All in the Family" and as the mother of "Roseanne" on the hit sitcom. Recently, she has appeared in the HBO television mini-series "Empire Falls" and has directed varioUs Productions of the Oscar Wilde play Salome, all of which starred Al Pacino. She also appears in the documentary Salomaybe? that was directed by Mr. Pacino.

In addition to teaching acting at Columbia and Yale, Estelle Parsons served as the Artistic Director of the Actors' Studio between 1996 and 2001.

Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm.

Directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County is a rare theatrical event: a large-scale work filled with 13 unforgettable characters, a powerful tragicomedy told with unflinching honesty and the unforgettable breakthrough of a major American playwright. August: Osage County premiered and was produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 2007.

Nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Play and Best Director, and the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play, Best Director and Best Scenic Design, August: Osage County opened at the Imperial Theatre Broadway on December 4, 2007, to wide critical acclaim. The New York Times called August: Osage County "The most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years," and it was voted The #1 Play of the Year by Time, The Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, and TimeOut New York. After a sold-out engagement at the Imperial Theatre, the show re-opened at the Music Box Theatre on April 29, 2008.

The show's creative team includes Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), Ann G. Wrightson (lights), Richard Woodbury (sound) and David Singer (original music).

To experience what goes on backstage at SHN shows, go to http://shnsf.com/podcast/index.asp and listen to Backstage, the SHN podcast series, to hear interviews with members of the creative teams or actors for all SHN productions.

Tickets for August: Osage County range in price from $35 to $80 and beginning Sunday, May 17 may be purchased online at www.shnsf.com, through Ticketmaster by calling (415) 512-7770, at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th St., Mon-Sat10 AM - 6 PM). Groups of 15 or more may order now by calling Group Sales at (415) 551-2020. To learn more about August: Osage County and other SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
TUE - SAT at 8PM
WED, SAT & SUN at 2PM

SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres-San Francisco's premier theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theater series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway. For information on all SHN shows, please visit www.shnsf.com.

 

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