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A few words from Tracy Letts
Published: 9/29/2008 7:10 AM
Last Modified: 9/29/2008 7:10 AM

Tracy Letts’ speech at the Celebration of Books’ opening night event Friday at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center was – not surprisingly – loaded with memorable one-liners and sharp little stories.

For example, talking about his play “August: Osage County”:

“Telling a family story about Okies to audiences in Chicago and New York has taught me one thing: We (Oklahomans) are the only ones who know how to pronounce the word ‘Osage.’”

Letts described the play as being about “a family in an acute state of crisis,” and that he was always puzzled by the way the Westons of “August: Osage County” were often described as “dysfunctional.”
“That word never occurred to me during the writing of the play, nor did it come up in rehearsal. I suppose it’s because that would mean I would first have to become acquainted with a functional family.
“I remember seeing (U.S. Senator) Jim Inhofe once holding up a photograph of his brood and saying there were no homosexuals in his family,” Letts said. “I don’t know if that makes them functional or dysfunctional – but I’m pretty sure it means, they aren’t much fun.
“As one of my characters says, ‘A normal family is one you don’t know too well.’”

“I carry Oklahoma with me wherever I go,” Letts said, adding that his Oklahoma heritage has given him “an eye for the landscape, a taste for chicken fried steak and a love of Sooner football.
“I’ve lived in Chicago for 22 years, and I still brag about Oklahoma. I drive my Chicago friends crazy sometimes, talking about the people from Oklahoma,” Letts said. “James Garner: ‘You know, he’s from Oklahoma.’ Jennifer Jones: ‘You know, she’s from Oklahoma.’ Jim Inhofe: ‘Jim Who? Okla-what? Never heard of him.’”






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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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