Estelle Parsons to Depart August: Osage County May 17

Estelle Parsons will depart the Broadway production of Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County on May 17, one week before Phylicia Rashad assumes the role of matriarch Violet Weston. Understudy Susanne Marley will play the role of Violet beginning May 19, and Rashad will join the cast on May 26. August: Osage County continues its run at the Music Box Theatre, directed by Anna D. Shapiro.

As previously announced, Tony nominee Amy Morton will return to the Broadway company on May 26 in the role of Barbara Fordham, joining a cast that includes Elizabeth Ashley, Anne Berkowitz, Guy Boyd, John Cullum, Kimberly Guerrero, Brian Kerwin, Mariann Mayberry, Michael Milligan, Sally Murphy, Troy West and Frank Wood.

Rashad will play a limited engagement through August 23. August Osage County is the winner of five 2008 Tony Awards as well as the 2008 Pulitzer Prize.