Source
Judy’s granddaughter was sitting at a traffic light in Tulsa recently and happened to glance over. The man waiting on the red light next to her was George Clooney in a Lamborghini. You’re not apt to experience that auspicious moment again in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Clooney is in Bartlesville, a small town about 45 miles from here, to produce a movie based on the award winning play, “August: Osage County.” The play was written by Tracy Letts, son of novelist Billie Letts and Dennis Letts, a former literature professor.
Osage County is in the northern part of Oklahoma. It is the home of the federally recognized Osage Nation, and the county seat of Pawhuska.
Tracy Letts
The plot: A former college professor and one-time poet disappears from his residence in a rural area outside Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
He has just hired a housekeeper to care for the home and keep an eye on his pill-popping wife. But when he vanishes, generations of the Weston family descend upon the three-story home.
The Westons have so many sins and secrets they are hiding, that Tulsa native Tracy Letts created what many have deemed one of the great American plays, out of all their volcanic scenes.
Source
This play, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the 2008 Tony Award, was named after a poem written by Howard Starks, who was born in Shidler, Oklahoma and died in 2003.
The play/movie is not a purely autobiographical account. But one member of the clan unexpectedly ended up playing a role in the play.
So stars have been sited around this region, Tulsa being the big city of choice. The cast includes: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch (British star of Sherlock on BBC), Sam Shepard, Dermot Mulroney, Ewan McGregor, Misty Upham (Frozen River star), Margo Martindale (Texas native and actor), and Julianne Nicholson (TV actor). The production is expected to run for eight weeks. The producer is John Wells.
Source: Tulsa World
The original casting choice for patriarch Beverly Weston dropped out shortly before the Chicago production. Letts’ father, Dennis, who, after retirement, had launched a second career as an actor, took over the part. Unfortunately, shortly after the production transferred to Broadway, Dennis was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. In spite of this, he made his Broadway debut and juggled chemotherapy with eight shows a week, until a mere three weeks before his death in February 2008.
Letts admitted that he is unable to watch other actors performing the role in subsequent productions, as he doesn’t want to tamper with the memory of his father’s performance. The opportunity to work with his father was “an irreplaceable experience. No play I do for the rest of my life will match that.”
Here is an excerpt from the poem written by Howard Starks: “August: Osage County”
“Dust hangs heavy on the dull catalpas;
The cicadas are scraping interminably
At the heat-thickened air -
No rain in three weeks, no real breeze all day.
In the dim room
The blinds grimly endure the deadly light,
Protecting the machined air,
As the watchers watch the old lady die.”
***
Tracy Letts said he stole the title with deference, yet without apology. “Howard, I’m sure, would have it no other way. I dedicate this play to his memory.”
Interesting!
Yeah, it is for these prairie parts.
Brenda
I would not mind bumping into George Clooney
Oh boy, me either!
Brenda
MMMMMMMMMmmmmmm what fun, I would love to be sitting next to that hunka hunka gorgeous Irishness – I think he is awesome and acts SO WELL – now if he weren’t so danged Leftist he’d be nearly perfect!
Anyway, what a fun time had by that gal, wow, can’t imagine that at ALL!
I wouldn’t mind it either. But his politics actually endear him to me.
Brenda
That looks like it’s going to be a great movie, and not just because of George Clooney.
A-List stars abound!
Brenda
How exciting for your area. I will probably go see it because I’m a HUGE Meryl Streep fan! I love Tracy Letts’ testimonial to his dad. How wonderful that they were able to work together before his dad passed…Donna
I know how you miss your dad, Donna. So I would think this aspect would be especially endearing to you. I love Meryl Streep also. Wow, can that woman act!
Brenda
So did she faint, or just plum keel over, what a great story she must have to tell….
Love it.
Jen
Actually, she didn’t seem all that impressed. But she’s in her mid-twenties. Probably doesn’t get her going like us older gals!
Brenda
Sweetie, it’s Benedict Cumberbatch. A strange last name but a wonderful actor. I’ve had many friends appear in various productions of this play. Tracy Letts is currently starring in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway – to rave reviews. My good friend is stage managing that production.
Thanks. I fixed the name. I told Judy today I wish they’d had you be the dialect coach so I could have met you. And we could have spent time together!
Brenda
Even though I now live in Illinois, I am from Tulsa and spent 10 years driving through Bartlesville, OK sharing our son back and forth to our Kansas farm with my ex. Wow, this is exciting for me.
It has a fantastic cast, doesn’t it?
Brenda
plus….Clooney is the CUTEST!
Oh, he’s beyond handsome! He is my ideal choice of how a man should look.
Brenda
I am not a huge movie buff but this is one I am looking forward to seeing. How exciting for the small town it was filmed in- xo Diana
I know they’re raking in the revenue from all those stars being in town for awhile! I’m not a big movie buff myself, but this all star cast makes me want to see it.
Brenda
Hi Brenda~How exciting!I Love George Clooney~will have to make sure I go watch this movie when it comes to town here..hes so dreamy and so very handsome~a real ladies man!! Love ya! Carol
Oh, you bet!
Brenda
Sounds very interesting. And I adore George Clooney.
Oh, he’s a real looker!
Brenda
Thanks for the heads up. We don’t see many movies but this one might be worth a look see. I adore Meryl Streep in just about anything she does. She’s probably the finest actress we have today, in my opinion.
I agree with that. Meryl Streep excels in every movie she’s in.
Brenda
Sounds like a wonderful play and so hopefully will make a good movie. Great cast and yes I wouldn’t mind seeing ‘George’ next to me at a red light! Hugs, Linda
I have been asking myself what I would do if I saw him next to me at a traffic light. And I just don’t know!
Brenda
Wow, guess he’s not worried about being seen! Can’t say I wouldn’t love to see a star in our small town. We’ve had “movies” filmed in our county…not big movies though. What a sight I am sure. Let us know what else you see around your area!
From what I understand, the stars all have been seen here and there. Shopping, eating in restaurants, etc., here in Tulsa and elsewhere.
Brenda
Wow! what and all star cast. I can’t wait to see this one. I’d love to look over and see George Clooney next to me.
Yeah, I would love to have been in that car!
Brenda
Lucky Judy’s granddaughter! George Clooney is definitely swoon worthy, and I pretty much agree with his politics, so I think we would get along quite well. The cast sounds amazing, and this will definitely be a movie to see on the big screen. A good friend of mine was raised in Bartlesville. I will have to call and tell her George Clooney is making a movie there!
Tell her to look left and right at traffic lights!
Brenda
They’re filming in Bartlesville? How come nothing exciting ever happened when I lived there (twice)?
Timing is everything, I always say…
Brenda
George Clooney is a guarantee that the production will be a huge success.
Smiles,
Carolynn
He is ever so talented in my book!
Brenda
There are not too many movies I would spend money on to see at the theatre, but this well might be one of them. What a cast! And some of my favorite thespians are in it.
And it’s a good thing Judy’s daughter was sitting still when she saw George Clooney! I think he is one of the best looking actors in Hollywood. And from what I undestand, he’s a nice guy, too.
But Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep and SAM SHEPHERD (who I love as much as Clooney), too! Wow! Can’t wait!
XO,
Sheila
Oh, I know. And the A-List goes on and on…
Brenda
Make that Judy’s “granddaughter”!
I Know my EYES would pop out and my mouth would drop.
I really don’t know how I’d react. Probably say: “Aren’t you George Clooney?” Which is probably what he gets from most everyone.
Brenda
I would flip out if I looked over and saw George Clooney – I would surely cause a wreck! I think he is one of the handsomest men alive.
If not THE handsomest man alive! And he just gets better looking as he gets older. Must have good genes.
Brenda
My sister babysat for George Clooney when he was a baby and his dad Nick used to Deejay my elementary school sock hops. Am I dating myself?
wow ! I would sure love to glance over and see George Clooney sitting next to me ! Woo Hoo ! Dream come true – Lucky Judy’s grandaughter !!