Steppenwolf to Honor Women of "August: Osage County" (The Movie)

Julianne Nicholson

Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “August: Osage County,” was born and bred on Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre stage and subsequently became a huge success on Broadway. Now, of course, it is a movie starring Meryl Streep. Although it is not scheduled for wide release until December, it “debuted” at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and will be screened Oct. 15 at the AMC River East 21 as part of the Chicago Film Festival.

But there is more news. For its fifth annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon on Dec. 9, 2013 (beginning 12 noon at a location still to be announced), Letts will host three of the actresses in the film — Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale and Julianne Nicholson — as the guests of honor. (Alas, “la Streep” will not be among the honorees.) This year’s event will feature a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film, in addition to a conversation with Lewis, Martindale and Nicholson to be moderated by Letts in a format similar to “Inside the Actors Studio.”

Juliette Lewis

This Steppenwolf event raises funds for the theater’s professional development programs, including Steppenwolf for Young Adults and the School at Steppenwolf, as well as the Professional Leadership Programs, providing apprenticeships, fellowships and internships for the next generation of arts managers and producers. Previous honorees include ensemble members Joan Allen and Martha Plimpton, Julianna Margulies and Mary-Louise Parker.

Margo Martindale

Table sponsorships for Women in the Arts are currently available. Individual tickets, if available, will start at $200 and go on sale Nov. 1. To purchase tickets or learn about table sponsorship opportunities, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.