august: osage county (playwright, play, film adapt.)

Question 1

Who is Tracy Letts?

Answer 1

actor, playwright, screenwriter

Question 2

Where was Tracy Letts born?

Answer 2

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Question 3

Is the play autobiographical?

Answer 3

no, but it is slightly based on his life

Question 4

Are there references to his family in the play?

Answer 4

many to his mom but dad similar to patriarch

Question 5

What awards did this play win?

Answer 5

2008 Pulitzer Prize
2008 Tony Award for the best new play

Question 6

What awards has Tracy won?

Answer 6

2013 Best Actor Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?

Question 7

What are things to take note of in the play?

Answer 7

detailed set
for multigenerational family gathering
huge cast
expensive to produce
larger social commentary bc of housekeeper

Question 8

What was the quote by Robert Penn Warren about?

Answer 8

Family (similar to the lullaby about family in golden child)

Question 9

Things to focus on about the play

Answer 9

visual exposition
realism, family drama
structure of the play
language, literacy, wit, dark humor

Question 10

What does the safety deposit box symbolize?

Answer 10

a box of secrets

Question 11

What does illness/cancer (mouth and cervical) symbolize)

Answer 11

irony about violet

Question 12

What quote symbolizes retrospective action?

Answer 12

thank god we can’t tell the future. we’d never get out of bed.

Question 13

What does Oklahoma (the plains) symbolize?

Answer 13

the state of mind and spiritual affection