Meryl Streep played ‘August: Osage’ matriarch on screen, but who played her onstage?
The character: Violet Weston, the emotionally abusive matriarch of a sprawling Oklahoma family.
Who played her onstage: Deanna Dunagan originated the role in the Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production in Chicago in 2007, eventually winning a Tony Award on Broadway. She later appeared in the London and Australia productions of the Tracy Letts play. Estelle Parsons played Violet in the U.S. national tour, which came to the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. in 2009. (Claire Folger / Associated Press; Joan Marcus / Associated Press)
The character: Sister Aloysius, a Bronx nun who is convinced that a priest has sexually abused an altar boy.
Who played her onstage: Cherry Jones originated the role off-Broadway in 2004 at the Manhattan Theatre Club and later won a Tony Award on Broadway. She also starred in the national tour of the John Patrick Shanley play, which came to the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. Jones was succeeded on Broadway by Eileen Atkins. In the play’s local premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse, Sister Aloysius was played by Linda Hunt. (Miramax Film; Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)