'August: Osage County' Opens MSU Fall Drama Season
play August:Osage County is about a family homecoming of sorts. The
Midwestern StateUniversity theatre production of the Tracy Letts play will be a
homecoming forMSU Theatre alumni also. The department’s first play of the fall
season featuresa multi-generational cast that includes three MSU theatre alumni.
Visiting professor Matt Singletary is directing the play.Singletary graduated from
Rutgers University with a Master of Fine Arts inDirecting. He has worked
professionally in New York andChicago. Laura Jefferson, MSU Associate
Professor of Theatre, said it wasSingletary’s idea to have different generations of
actors to portray the membersof an Oklahoma family gathering to cope with a
tragedy.
The cast includes MSU theatre alums Shawn Duthie asCharlie Aiken, Paul
Jefferson as Beverly Weston, and Laura Jefferson as VioletWeston.
Duthie graduated from MSU in 1996 with a Bachelor ofFine Arts in Theatre and
has taught theater at Holliday High School for 14years. His drama classes have
made multiple trips to state UIL One-Act Play,and speech and debate contests.
Paul Jefferson graduated from MSU in 1977 with aBachelor of Arts with teacher
certification then earned his MA from LouisianaState University. He taught
theatre for three years at Nicholls State Universityin Louisiana, then went to Penn
State and earned an MFA in Directing. He is aprofessional equity stage manager
and was a stage manager at the Denver Centerfor the Performing Arts for 15
years before coming to Wichita Falls in 2000 whenhe and Laura Jefferson were
married. He has taught drama at Rider High Schoolfor 15 years.
This is the first main stage production LauraJefferson has performed in since
1998. She is retiring in May 2015 after morethan 30 years with MSU. Paul
Jefferson was last in an MSU production in 1977and Duthie’s last appearance
was in 1997.
Professional actress Kay Capasso will play MattieFae Aiken, Violet’s sister and
Charles’s wife (Duthie). Capasso earned an MFAin Acting from The Actor’s
Studio Drama School in New York City. She is marriedto Singletary.
Aside from being a chance for alumni to be part of aproduction, Laura Jefferson
said that the arrangement was an excellentopportunity for students to work with
professional actors. “It also lets thestudents see us being put through the paces
just as we make them work,” shesaid.
Generated on 4/17/2015 12:36:03 AM, by iNews Publisher, Expinion.net
Other cast members include Katie Huitt as BarbaraFordham, Maxwell Norris as
Bill Fordham, Leanne Ottaviano as Jean Fordham,Rachel Bullard as Ivy Weston,
Rian Dillard as Karen Weston, Drew Davison asLittle Charles Aiken, Sarah
Chong-Harmer as Johnna Monevata, Erik Temblador asSteve Heidebrecht, and
Michael Gilbert as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday,Oct. 9-11, with a matinee
performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in the FainFine Arts Theatre.
An alumni reception will be held in the foyer afterthat night’s performance.
Another homecoming event will be held in May for thosewho could not attend
during the fall semester.
After Friday night’sperformance, the audience is invited to stay for a talkback
session with castand crew where they can ask questions about any aspect of the
production.
Because of language andsituations, the play is for mature audiences. General
admission tickets are$10; $8 for pre-college students, senior citizens, and
military; and free withMSU ID to faculty, staff, and students. No children under
age 6 admitted. Formore information or for season ticket or group ticket
information, call the boxoffice at (940) 397-4393, the publicity office at (940)
397-4399, or theTheatre Department secretary at (940) 397-4670.
Generated on 4/17/2015 12:36:03 AM, by iNews Publisher, Expinion.net