Former Chicago actress Shannon Cochran is simultaneously happy and terrified to returning back to the Windy City.
Cochran stars in national tour of Tracy Letts' drama August: Osage County in the pivotal role of the grown daughter, Barbara ( a role originated at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2007 by ensemble member Amy Morton ) . Since August: Osage County went on to conquer Broadway and, later, London, Cochran is well aware of the huge expectations placed on her as this Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning drama comes home.
"I'm just scared to death, especially if [ people ] saw the original," Cochran told Windy City Times, even though she has more than 20 years of regularly working in Chicago theater ( often at Steppenwolf ) and enviable credits like originating roles in Letts' other dramas like Bug and Man From Nebraska.
The Steppenwolf production of August: Osage County "was something so special in its place and time. Nothing could quite recreate the original production," admitted Cochran, who is nervous about her peers' reaction to her performance. "But this is just like a completely different animal that is doing very well because it's such a good play."
One major difference is the fact that the tour of August: Osage County has been playing in large touring houses on the road—some as large as 4,000 seats.
"Economics kind of dictates that [ the producers ] put it in as large of a house for shorter amounts of time so they can cover more cities," Cochran said, adding that she would prefer to play at Chicago's cozier Bank of America Theatre instead of the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
Playing huge houses also means that all of the cast members have to wear body microphones ( Cochran has to wear two in case one goes out ) . The production on Broadway only utilized floor and area microphones.
"It would be a logistical nightmare in these different houses to try and equalize that kind of sound," Cochran said. "In the beginning everyone really felt terrible because we felt it was an artificial canned sound, but then we realized after talking to friends of ours and they pointed out that the sound guy is actually making it seem like you're just projecting in a regular theater."
Cochran is well aware that the Chicago engagement of August: Osage County has been selling very well. There's the star element with Academy Award-winner Estelle Parson's taking on the malevolent matriarch Violet Weston ( a role that won a Tony Award for Deanna Dunagan ) . But another reason is that there are so many locals who kicked themselves for missing it the first time around.
"You wouldn't believe the number of people who have said that to me: "I missed it when it was in Chicago and I didn't realize it was that big of a deal so I didn't rush right out,'" Cochran said.
Though now based in Los Angeles, Cochran was grateful that Letts and director Anna D. Shapiro approached her to play Barbara ( she was spared going through the audition process ) . And she's not nervous about what Amy Morton's reaction is going to be.
"Amy actually helped us put this tour together so she's seen my performance already," Cochran said. "So I don't have to spring that on her, so that's a relief."
Cochran also faced another potentially nerve-wracking homecoming recently when August: Osage County played Tulsa, Okla. ( Letts originally hails from Oklahoma. )
"It was interesting because the people knew it was about them and for them and so they were cautious as they got into the play they watched and listened to it," Cochran said, making an understatement by saying how the Weston clan is not the most flattering portrait of an Oklahoma family. "But you could almost feel on stage the momentum gathering in the audience so that by the end they leapt to their feet. Everyone we spoke to afterwards said, 'Thank you for bringing this to us.'"
August: Osage County continues until Feb. 14 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph. Tickets are $25-$125; call 800-775-2000 or visit www.broadwayinchicago.com .
Another Elphaba engagement
If there is anyone still kicking themselves for missing out on the long Chicago run of Wicked, they'll soon have another chance to see it.
Last week, Broadway in Chicago announced that the blockbuster 2003 Broadway musical based upon Gregory Maguire's revisionist "Wizard of Oz" novel is returning for an eight-week engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre Dec. 1, 2010-Jan. 23, 2011.
Wicked famously played at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre for 1,500 performances, grossing more than $200 million in a run lasting almost four years, starting in June 2005. ( The national touring company arrived first before a dedicated Chicago company took its place. )
In other Broadway in Chicago news, the off-Broadway aerial spectacle Fuerza Bruta is set to literally play the stage of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University starting in May. Audience members stand on the stage to look up at all the acrobatic performers ( some of whom also perform in overhead swimming pools ) . It all sounds exciting, but let's hope that this unconventional show doesn't end up doing any major damage to the historic 1889 theater.
Critical champion
Victory Gardens Theater recently announced that its new 109-seat theater upstairs at the Biograph Theater is to be officially christened as the Richard Christensen Theater after the emeritus Chicago Tribune theater critic.
The theater christening also coincides with the launching of a $1 million capital campaign called "Campaign for Growth" to support Victory Gardens' commitment to new works and other initiatives like the IGNITION Festival for minority playwrights.
Though critics are often reviled by those who work in the theater community, they do play a vital part in steering attention to often exemplary art. Christensen's long-time career at chronicling the rise of Chicago theater is certainly deserving of this great honor.
Please pass along theater news and other related tidbits to scottishplayscott@yahoo.com and Andrew@windycitymediagroup.com .
