Thursday, October 3, 2024

“August: Osage County”: Theatre Superstars Come out for Last Pre-Release Screening

Share

You’d think everyone interesting had gone out of town by now. But on Monday, a couple of private screenings of “August: Osage County” drew lots and lots of big names from theater world. They wanted to see how director John Wells and his A list cast had handled the Pulitzer Prize winning drama.

They also came to celebrate producer Jean Doumanian, who steered “AOC” from inception to Broadway to the big screen. The movie, written from his play from Tracy Letts, opens this Friday in New York and LA. It’s one of the five nominees for Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards. It could very well win.

Famed director Stephen Daldry (“The Reader,” “Billy Elliott”) introduced the film as a surprise, and sang its praises.

In the audience at the 7pm show– a murderer’s row from Broadway. Bernadette Peters, Joey Grey, Rosemary Harris, and Alan Cumming. Penny Fuller sat in front of them.  Bob Dishy and Judy Graubart were there. “Man of Steel” star Michael Shannon had trouble finding a seat, the place was so packed.

Earlier in the day, Fantasia hit the matinee screening along with Duncan Sheik and Marsha Mason.

How much do I love “AOC”? I’m putting it on my Best Movies of 2013 list this week. When it opens Friday, make a beeline for the ticket line.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News