August: Osage County: Phylicia Rashad assumes the role of 'Violet Weston,' Amy Morton returns as 'Barbara Foreman'

Phylicia Rashad assumes the role of 'Violet Weston' on 26 May 2009 in the Broadway production of Tracy Letts' comic-drama, August: Osage County.

Rashad assumes the role from Estelle Parsons who played her final performance on 17 May 2009. Parson's left the production in anticipation of playing the role in the National Tour that begins later this year.

Rashad won a Tony for her role as 'Lena Younger' in Lorraine Hansberry�s 'A Raisin in the Sun' (2004) and was nominated for a Tony for her performance as 'Aunt Esther' in August Wilson�s 'The Gem of the Ocean' (2004).

Also on 26 May 2009, original cast member Amy Morton returns to the role of 'Barbara Fordham,' for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Morton assumes the role from Johanna Day who played her final performance on 24 May 2009.

August: Osage County now features Michael Milligan (Little Charles), Phylicia Rashad (Violet Weston), Brian Kerwin (Steve Heidebrecht), Kimberly Guerrero (Johnna Monevata), Guy Boyd (Charlie Aiken), John Cullum (Beverly Weston), Mariann Mayberry (Karen Weston), Amy Morton (Barbara Fordham), Sally Murphy (Ivy Weston), Anne Berkowitz (Jean Fordham), Frank Wood (Bill Fordham), Elizabeth Ashley (Mattie Fai Aiken) and Troy West (Sherrif Deon Gilbeau)

August: Osage County, currently selling tickets through to 6 Sep 2009, transferred to the Music Box Theatre on 29 Apr 2008 from the Imperial Theatre. The show played its final performance at the Imperial Theatre on 20 Apr 2008, where it opened on 4 Dec 2007, following previews from 30 Oct 2007.

The play opened to excellent reviews: 'Letts...knows just how to put the "fun" back into "dysfunctional.' (New York Theatre Guide), 'The most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years.' (New York Times); "You're laughing hysterically one minute and appalled the next as the 3 1/2 -hour play flies by" (New York Daily News); "It's enormously entertaining." (New York Post); "Ripping, riveting new play." (NewsDay); "One big, fat, juicy whopper." (Star-Ledger); "Most exciting new plays in years." (The Record); "So darkly delicious and ghastly that you're squirming in your seat even as you're doubled over laughing." (Variety).

August: Osage County: When their patriarch vanishes, the Weston clan must return to their three-story home in rural Oklahoma to get to the heart of the matter.

August: Osage County is the winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and five 2008 Tony Awards: Best Play, Best Leading Actress (Deanna Dunagan), Best Direction, Best Featured Actress (Rondi Reed) and Best Scenic Design.

The drama had its world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf, directed Anna D. Shapiro, where it ran from 28 Jun - 26 Aug 2007.

Anna D. Shapiro, once again directs the production, which marks her Broadway debut. The design team features Todd Rosenthal (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), Ann Wrightson (lights), Richard Woodbury (sound) and David Singer (original music).

August: Osage County is produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel, in association with Steppenwolf Theatre Company.