Family Dysfunction

It’s safe to say that Americans have made as much as we can of the construct of the “dysfunctional family,” and can now officially stop talking and writing about fucked-up families and move on to some other annoying form of navel-gazing. Perhaps as our sendoff, we can all go see...
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

It’s safe to say that Americans have made as much as we can of the construct of the “dysfunctional family,” and can now officially stop talking and writing about fucked-up families and move on to some other annoying form of navel-gazing.

Perhaps as our sendoff, we can all go see Tracy Letts’s August: Osage County. This much-lauded black comedy, originally a production of the Steppenwolf Theatre and directed by Anna D. Shapiro, celebrates messed-up, middle-class families everywhere in a story about, well, a messed-up, middle-class family whose patriarch has gone missing. The Westons come together at their rural Oklahoma homestead to comfort their mother, and (surprise!) wind up spilling secrets and ragging on one another for hours. Fun!

The New York Times called August: Osage County “the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years” right before it went on to win a bagful of Tony Awards.


Jan. 5-9, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 9, 2 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 10, 2 & 7 p.m., 2010

When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.

We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.

$30,000

GET MORE COVERAGE LIKE THIS

Sign up for the Arts & Culture newsletter to get the latest stories delivered to your inbox

Loading latest posts...