By Kayla Pickrell

A full house will occupy the Guignol Theatre Thursday for the opening of “August: Osage County.”

“August” is the third play of UK Theatre’s season, written by Tracy Letts.

“This is a really contemporary look at a traditional American family,” Michael Sheehy, a theatre sophomore playing the character Bill, said. “It looks at dark issues in a comedic way.”

Along with the student-actors, alumni of the theater department and Russell Henderson, a theater professor, are actors as well.

Because the play features three generations of a family, the first generation is only fitting to be played by alumni.

Vic Chaney, director of “August,” said, “I wanted the students to be exposed to what the alums have to offer as experience. They need to get used to it.”

Alumni Brad Wills and Theresa Willis serve as examples and mentors for the students to understand the theater industry.

“I don’t want them leaving school blind to how the industry operates,” Chaney said.

Chaney said the set is realistic, with real food, and the actors will be breaking props on stage.

“The audience will be able to smell the food on the table,” Chaney said.

The stage will be set in thrust, meaning the audience will be sitting on the stage, in the very living room of the family.

The actors have been working on the play seven days a week for the past month and six days a week since the beginning of January, said Elizabeth Greenfield, an arts administration senior.

“The response of the audience will be unprecedented,” Greenfield said. “There’s nowhere to hide for both the actors and the audience.”

Sheehy finds that the difficult part for him was trying to put himself in the shoes of his character.

“The hardest part is learning the mindset of someone who is significantly older than I,” Sheehy said, “who is having trouble with his wife and has a 14-year-old daughter.”

Chaney said he doesn’t see the students as students, but as actors.

“To me, I see the alums, professor and students as one in the same,” Chaney said. “They are all actors in my eyes.”

On the other hand, Sheehy found it difficult at first to adjust to his professor being on stage acting next to him, but he has found it insightful.

“This play establishes the UK theatre department as a strong artistic force on campus,” Sheehy said. “It also serves to enhance UK as a strong, artistic campus.”

The play will be shown on Feb. 23, 24, 25 & March 1, 2 & 3 at 7:30pm and Feb. 26, March 3 & 4 at 2:00pm at the Guignol Theatre. Feb.23 and Feb. 24 shows are sold out. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.