Highwood Theatre Presents 'August: Osage County'

The Highwood Theatre announces its upcoming student production of August: Osage County, running March 27 through 29 as part of the theatre’s Mainstage Season.

The 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by Tracy Letts explores difficult topics such as depression, addiction, fidelity, abuse and suicide. While not a typical choice for student productions, Highwood is providing the cast of high school actors with the necessary resources to address these themes.

According to a news release, Highwood is partnering with four local college chapters of the Active Minds organization to empower students to speak openly about mental illness in order to educate others and provide encouragement for seeking help. Members from these chapters attend rehearsals to work with the actors on how to accurately depict someone struggling with mental illness as well as providing awareness and resources to the cast and crew.

Highwood is also collaborating with the National Alliance of Mental Illness to host a talkback after the March 28 afternoon performance to engage, inform and equip audiences to deal with the issues presented.

Director of August: Osage County, Kevin Kearney, explains, “Our student actors are really becoming community ambassadors for an open discussion of mental health. It’s an important conversation to have as it affects nearly everyone directly and indirectly, and we are committed to continuing the conversation even after this production has ended.”

The theatre obtained funding for the project from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.