Estelle Parsons to join AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY cast

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:49am

Estelle Parsons will replace Deanna Dunagan on June 17 in A:OC. She will be joined by Molly Regan (replacing Rondi Reed), Robert Foxworth (replacing Francis Guinan), Jim True-Frost (replacing Ian Barford), and Frank Wood (replacing Jeff Perry).

Exciting, exciting replacement cast.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118478.html

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:52am

Oh my god...Estelle Parsons was in HAPPY HUNTING and WHOOP-UP! I *must* meet this woman!!!

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:53am

We'll surely miss Deanna, but Ms. Parsons is a hoot!

[harris007]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:55am

why is everyone bailing on this show?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 11:58am

They played a more than respectable run - just about a year or so since the play started at Steppenwolf. The only plans I've heard of are Reed's...she's going back to WICKED after an extended absence.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:00pm

Time to go back to see A:OC again. Parsons is darned near perfect for the role (and I will still miss Dunagan, who is magnificent).

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:00pm

Can you imagine being in this draining show for more than a year? It's an amazing opportunity, but I can understand why the actors would want to take a break.

The only real disappointment is for audiences hoping to see either of these actresses in their (likely) Tony winning performances.

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:01pm

I know they must be tired but I can't imagine how they could leave the show right after they sweep the Tonys next Sunday.

[Calvin]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:08pm

And don't forget the recent Harold & Maude musical, WAT.

Fantastic, fantastic casting to replace fantastic, fantastic casting.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:36pm

She was superb in Harold and Maude. Crappy show, great performance.

This is perfect casting. I think a lot of the cast want to go back home to Chicago. I don't think they expected the show to last as long as it has.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:04pm

I saw an interview with the cast and they said they do miss Chicago and didn't expect the show to become as big of a hit as it has become. And don't most of them have projects to do at Steppenwolf?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:09pm

"why is everyone bailing on this show?"

It's not that they're bailing. The show was a limited run that was supposed to conclude in March. As such, many of the cast members lined up other projects and obligations, which they must now fulfill.

It will be strange for Deana Dunagan and Rondi Reed to probably win Tony Awards Sunday night, but no one will get to see their award winning performances (except for those who've already seen the show).

This sounds like a great group of replacements, and I am excited to make another trip to Osage County later this summer to see how they're doing.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:10pm

Yeah, I'm going to NY in July (I was supposed to be there this week but that didn't happen), and I'm pretty disappointed that I will be missing Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed--and I'm guessing probably Amy Morton as well. The main reason I wanted to see this on Broadway had to do with the acclaimed original cast, I'll probably be able to see it regionally or on tour within the next couple of years. Not sure if I want to see this on Broadway without Dunagan, Reed, and Morton.

[gustof777]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:36pm

It's way too incredible a piece to miss simply because members of the original cast have left, especially if you haven't seen it before.

And the cast has family, friends and lives back in Chicago and I completely understand their want to come back home.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:49pm

"I'm guessing probably Amy Morton as well."

No, Amy Morton is staying. You will miss the other two, though.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:58pm

It's only a matter of time before Amy Morton leaves too. This news about Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed leaving came as a surprise to me. I know they couldn't stay on forever, but they're leaving just one week after today's official announcement.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:58pm

Go for sure, regardless of the cast... that said... the replacements seem to have been cast with incredible care. I would imagine it should really hold together.

On a side note... it will be REALLY interesting to see again... so much hangs on the interpersonal dynamic of the characters... with that changing... it will be so interesting to see where the dynamic goes.


kmc

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:58pm

I'm thinking Estelle Parsons might be the incentive the Tony Committee needs to dust off that "best replacement" category.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 3:31pm

Estelle Parsons is one of the most brilliant and inspired casting choices in a long time. She'll be phenomenal.

Don't forget these people have made their homes in Chicago where some have worked at Steppenwolf for years. They want to go home. They've stuck it out longer than ever intended. Bravo to them.

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:01pm

Glad to see the replacements coming from within Steppenwolf, for the most part. Jim and Molly are both ensemble members and I've seen Parsons in at least one show there.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 7:16pm

Hmmm. I'm actually now kind of glad my tickets are for the end of June.

Can anyone hear the name Estelle Parsons without thinking of Bonnie and Clyde?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 8:02pm

I'm going to try to catch this again either Tuesday or Wednesday night this week, so I can catch the original cast one last time.

The last time I saw the show was the first preview, so I really want to get their performances back in my memory again before checking out the replacements, who I am sure will be fabulous as well.

If anyone is planning on being there Tuesday or Wednesday night this week, let me know and I'd love to say hello.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 8:40pm

So I guess I'm the only who takes one look at Estelle Parsons and can think of nothing but her shrieking "ROSEANNE! JACKIE!"?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:17pm

I'm a little confused as to why everyone is so shocked Dunnagan, Reed, and a large chunk of the original cast are leaving the day of the Tonys. I was under the impression this had been public knowledge for months now?

Parsons is brilliant casting. She's the polar opposite of Dunnagan in terms of acting style, so it's going to make the piece all the more incredibly enthralling to see the new dynamic she brings to the show and to the character of Violet.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 9:21pm

somethingwicked, there had not been press releases about Dunagan and Reed's departures until today, so nothing is public knowledge simply by having overheard a rumor from someone on the board. Until there's a press release, it is not public knowledge.

Updated On: 6/9/08 at 09:21 PM