Amy Morton in AUGUST

[CouldaWouldaShoulda]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:02am

This past weekend I passed by the Music Box and the cast list was in one of the windows. Amy Morton was on the list. I am was sort of confused because she was supposed to leave soon because she was to direct Letts' new play "Superior Donuts" at Steppenwolf. So i went on the website to see if she is listed as the director. And she isn't. I even looked at her profile and it isn't listed there either. So I am pretty sure Ms. Morton is in August for the rest of the run. I mean, she is going to win the Tony, so why wouldn't she stay?

[daspazoo]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:17am

You are correct, she was indeed slated to direct 'Superior Donuts.' I don't think a replacement has been officially announced, but I think it's clear she and the gang will stay in NYC through awards time.

Sometime during the summer though, they'll have been with the show a year, and might feel it's time to come back home. Amy is already slated to direct 'Dublin Carol' for Steppenwolf next season (opening Nov. 13) and fellow 'August' actor Francis Guinan will appear on stage in 'Kafka on the Shore' opening Sept. 1.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:43am

They may be leaving come summer, but I doubt the show will be going anywhere. It should (especially when it wins the Tony and Pulitzer)continue to gain an audience and run well beyond next summer.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 12:15pm

Good to hear. I can't imagine the show being as powerful without her.

Though perhaps Kate Burton would make a fantastic replacement down the line.

[CouldaWouldaShoulda]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 1:18pm

I am just so thrilled she will be staying in the play. I honestly cannot imagine anyone else playing that part as well as her.

Yankeefan, Kate Burton would be great though...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 1:20pm

Morton had better win that Tony.

[BBBoy]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 1:44pm

actually, to my understanding, Amy is still attached to direct "Superior" but the play itself has been delayed. I think she'll be in the show until at least the end of summer/early fall

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 1:48pm

She's staying, but I was told someone from the cast is leaving.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 2:30pm

That's great news. I was bummed out about not seeing the play with her due to all of the Tony buzz, sounds like one of those performances you don't wanna miss. Glad that I'll still be able to catch her in the early summer.

[mikem]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 4:29pm

popular_elphie, when is this cast member supposed to be leaving?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 4:48pm

The girl playing Jean is leaving for two months to film Californication. For those two months, starting in April, her (amazing) understudy will take over.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:28pm

Okay, I do love Amy Morton in AUGUST - but...

I dont think her Tony chances are all that clear. I'd be happy if she won - but, her own co-star Deanna Dunnagan is far superior and has the showier role IMO and if either one won a Tony, I'd put money on DD.

AUGUST ladies aside - they have INCREDIBLY hard competeition, and if i'm being fair - I think S. Epatha Merkerson turns in the best performance by a Lead Actress in a play so far this year. That Lola trully was heartbreaking and while Morton & Dunnagan were convincingly wonderful in their roles - neither has the affecting quality Merkerson did on me.

THAT ASIDE - Little Sheba is closing this week and Francis McDormand in The Country Girl & Laura Linney in Dangerous Liasons could prove to be great as well. Only time will tell, but I love how interesting this category is this season.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:32pm

Epatha has no shot at winning. The whole show was just damn boring. She was all subtext and no realism.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:44pm

The only way anyone other than someone from August wins is if Morton and Dunagan split the vote.

[mikem]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:47pm

Unless something surprising happens, the nominees in the category will almost certainly be Dunagan, Morton, Merkerson, McDormand, and Linney. It's unfortunate that Dunagan and Morton are in the same category -- the vote splitting scenario is very real. If one of them had been moved to Featured, they would both win. (I don't think either of them could have legitimately been moved to featured, though -- they really are both leads.)

Updated On: 3/14/08 at 06:47 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:47pm

Also, Deanna Dunagan won the Jeff Award in Chicago this past year over Amy Morton.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 9:57pm

While I do agree they're both leads, I think it could be easily argued that Dunagan is Featured... she disappears for a substantial portion of the Play, while Morton is in it pretty consistently.

That said, Dunagan has the showier role and probably has a better chance of winning, if they don't split it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:00pm

Ooh, bwaylvsong, thanks for the info. I need to try and see it with Madeline's understudy. While I think Madeline is talented,and I do enjoy her performance, she tends to play kind of the same role and sound the same. You could have plopped Jean into her role in Californication or vice-versa and not known the difference. I'm definitely interested to see a different take on the role.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:07pm

Jordangirl, I'll tell you when I find out more about when Madeline's leaving. I can assure you that her understudy will play the role differently and be fresh every night. This is actually her first professional gig (that I know of) AND her first straight play. She didn't go right to Broadway for nothing.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:08pm

Awesome! Thanks! :)