(Santa Ana, CA)— “August: Osage County” is set in an unusually hot August in rural Oklahoma. Mr. Beverly Weston, an alcoholic, once-noted poet, interviews and hires a young Native American woman, Johnna, as a live-in cook and caregiver for his strong-willed and contentious wife, Violet, who is suffering from cancer and addicted to narcotics. This play takes a look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston Family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.
Santa Ana College’s Theatre Arts department is bringing this critically acclaimed play written by Tracy Letts to the Phillips Hall Theatre for five evenings — October 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15, under the direction of Jay Wallace. With Sara Turner as stage manager, the cast includes Brenda Smith, of Santa Ana as Violet and Allison Volk of Long Beach as Barbara in the leading roles.
While there are moments of joy and humor woven into the story, “August: Osage County” is a play about how destructive families can be on children and the negative influence and power that parents can have. Initially produced in 2007 by the Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago, it was then turned into a movie in 2013 featuring Meryl Streep in the lead role as Violet. This Santa Ana College production is certain to grip your heart and engage your sensitivities.
The curtain rises for each performance at 7:30 p.m. The theatre is located at1530 W. 17th Street in Santa Ana. General admission is $15; staff and seniors is $12; students with ID is $9.99; and children 5-14 is $4. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.sac.edu/theatre and click on “Events”.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit www.sac.edu to learn more.
# # #
