Audition Notice for August: Osage County

By Tracy Letts

Production Team:

Producer: Lloyd Bittinger
Director: Susan Devine

Audition Dates:

Saturday, July 7, 2pm-5pm (arrive by 4:30pm)
Sunday, July 8, 7pm-10pm (arrive by 9:30pm)
Callbacks: Tuesday, July 10, 7pm-10pm

Rehearsal Schedule/Performance Dates:

Rehearsal will begin immediately after casting.  The rehearsal schedule is: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7pm-10pm and Saturday, Sunday 12pm-5pm.
After conflicts disclosed at audition will be honored.  Actors will not be called to all rehearsals.  Unscheduled conflicts must be very limited and based on an emergency situation and approved by the producer.
Tech: (All actors required) Saturday, September 1 – Friday, September 7 – Labor Day Weekend – Times TBD
Performances: September 6 – 23, 2018 (Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm, Possible Tuesday performances)
Note Special Schedule: The show does not follow LTA’s usual performance schedule and closes after the third weekend with strike on Sunday evening.  Strike will be supported by LTA to ensure everyone can leave at a reasonable hour.  All actors are required to participate in the strike.

Preparations:

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Sides for callbacks provided on Monday, July 9.  Headshot/resume not required, but helpful.  Pictures taken at auditions.  See LTA website to download the audition form. Bring your conflicts!
Questions: Contact Susan Devine at susandevine@cox.net

Show Information and Character Descriptions:

Pulitzer and Tony winning play about Beverly and Violet Weston and the family they created and ultimately destroyed.  Told almost in reversal, the history of the Weston family is revealed when the three Weston daughters return home when their father Beverly goes missing.  As they await the outcome, the past is revealed through the stories they tell, accusations they make, and the futures they choose.  Exploring how our past is our prologue, the play shows how difficult it is to escape our families of origin.  August: Osage County is performed in three acts and is dense and intense.  Although tragic, it includes comedic relief.

Character Descriptions:

Beverly Weston (Late 60s -70s) Intellectual, elegant, alcoholic. Once-successful poet who now teaches. Has complex, unhealthy relationship with wife, Violet. Appears in initial scene only, but hangs ghost-like over most of the play until it’s discovered he killed himself.

Violet Weston (Late 60s -70s) Beverly’s wife, an empty, broken person; suffering from a violent childhood, addiction, underlying mental illnesses, and undergoing treatment for cancer. Tragic and cruel and suffering.

Barbara (40-55) Oldest of three daughters. Seeks truth and control over her family of origin while her husband and teen-aged daughter are neglected and out of control. Able to see other people’s problems, but not her own.

Bill (40-55) Barbara’s husband. Like Beverly he is a university professor and is separated from Barbara and having an affair with a student. Lacks understanding of Barbara’s struggles and misery. Tired of dealing with her family’s problems and somewhat insensitive to them. He decides to leave her for good at the end of the play for the younger woman.

Jean (Teens) Barbara’s daughter who adopts inappropriate adult behaviors and acts out through smoking cigarettes (with parent’s knowledge) and pot. Not intimidated or uncomfortable when Steve flirts and comes on to her. Withholds rage at the state of her own family until Johnna recues her from Steve and then becomes enraged at her parents. Bill takes her with him after Barbara, forced to see herself as she truly is, attacks her.

Ivy (35-45) Violet’s middle daughter. Overtly asexual, wearing no make-up and preferring pants. Covertly involved with Little Charlie, her first cousin, who it is revealed is actually her half brother. Desperate to escape her parents and jealous of her sisters who appear to have escaped, she ignores and continues with plans to move to NY with Little Charlie.

Karen (30-45) Violet’s youngest daughter. Forces herself to believe she is happy now that she is engaged to Steve who is obviously a shady businessman and attempts to molest Jean. Refuses to accept the reality of his character and remain in her made-up world of happiness.

Mattie Fae (55-70) Violet’s sister. Married to Charlie. High strung and busy-body exterior that hides deep anxiety and fear. Protective of Violet growing up and protective now. Uncaring and at times cruel towards her son, Little Charlie, who was conceived when she had an affair with Beverly. Does not want to tell Little Charlie and Ivy that they are half siblings when she finds out they are romantically involved to hide her secret.

Charlie Aiken (55-70) Mattie Fae’s husband. Kind, easy going, gentle. Constantly defends Little Charlie and shows frustration with Mattie Fae over her treatment of Little Charlie. Does not know that Beverly is Little Charlie’s father.

Little Charlie (25-40) Mattie Fae’s son who believes Charlie is his father. Dulled, numbed, and dimmed spirit. Lacking motivation, connection, and purpose, he becomes romantically involved with Ivy, his cousin. Endures harsh criticism from Mattie Fae.

Johnna (Late teens –Early 20s) Cheyenne woman Beverly hires to take care of Violet before he disappears. Impervious to displays of disrespect and prejudice displayed. Desperate for a job. Shows great empathy for the family, especially Jean. Quiet and without instruction just knows what to do to take care of the others. Is not shocked at the revelations and behaviors of the Weston family. Remains to care for Violet in gentle way when all others have left her.

Steve (30-45) Karen’s fiancé. Snarky, shady, self-serving, lying, businessman. He smokes pot with Jean who is 14 years old in order to molest her. He is run off after Johnna catches them in the act. Karen chooses to believe him and they leave Oklahoma together.

Sheriff (40s-50s) Former high school friend of Barbara’s. Warm, open, friendly. He informs the family that Beverly was found dead.

To download an audition form, click HERE.

Future Audition Dates

Jesus Christ Superstar
May 12-13, 2018

August: Osage County
July 7-8, 2018

Dracula
August 11-12, 2018

A Christmas Carol
September 22-23, 2018

The Fantasticks
October 27-28, 2018

You Can’t Take It With You
December 8-9, 2018

The Savannah Disputation
March 2-3, 2019

Ken Ludwig’s A Fox on the Fairway
March 30-31, 2019

Audition notices will be posted as they become available.

Audition dates are subject to change. Check back for updates.