The Arc Theatre Presents STEEL MAGNOLIAS

The Arc Theatre is pleased to present Robert Harling's popular American classic STEEL MAGNOLIAS, directed by Artistic Director Mark Boergers*, playing January 19 - February 12, 2017 at Red Curtain Theater at the First Congregational Church House, 1417 Hinman Ave. in Evanston. Tickets are currently available at arctheatrechicago.org.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS will feature Nicholia Q. Aguirre as Clairee, Meg Elliott as Ouiser, Brookelyn Hébert as Shelby, Natalie Sallee* as M'Lynn, Lucy Sandy as Truvy and Nikkia Tyler as Annelle.

Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, STEEL MAGNOLIAS is the play that inspired the blockbuster movie. Six women from different generations share laughter, love and loss at Truvy's Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana- where anybody who's anybody goes to get their hair done. Best friends Ouiser and Clairee trade scathing quips as the younger generations prepare for Shelby's impending nuptials and then celebrate her married life. When life throws a devastating curve ball at Shelby and her mother, M'Lynn, these life long friends band together to navigate rough tides with grace, new hairdos and wills made of steel.

"The Arc Theatre's Steel Magnolias distills this epic and beautiful story down to its most emotional and intimate incarnation. Through simple and immersive staging, a diverse cast of powerhouse actresses expose the deep relationships and complex bonds that inhabit Truvy's iconic beauty salon, setting Steel Magnolias in its rightful place as a timeless work of true emotional heft.

The production team for STEEL MAGNOLIAS includes Cailin Short and Mark Boergers* (set design), Catharine Young (costume design), Matt Reich (sound design) and Jaclynn Joslin (stage manager).

*Denotes The Arc Theatre Company Member

About the Director

Mark Boergers is the Artistic Director and co-founder of The Arc Theatre. In addition, he is the Chair and Artistic Director of the Theater Department at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee and also works as a freelance casting associate for Paskal-Rudnicke Casting in Chicago. Past directing credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth and As You Like It for Shakespeare on the Ridge, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground for Athena Theatre in Los Angeles, Oedipus Rex and Top Girls for The Arc Theatre and Steel Magnolias, Kindertransport, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella (an adaptation he co-wrote) and Godspell for Cardinal Stritch University. Last winter, The Arc Theatre produced his World Premiere play The Things We Keep in Evanston, directed by Arc Company member Natalie Sallee. Mark is proud to hold his MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University as well as a BS in Business administration and Theater from Marquette University. He will direct an intimate version of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap this April at Cardinal Stritch. www.markboergers.com.

About The Arc Theatre

The Arc Theatre is a proud company in the image of Chicago Storefront Theaters. Formed in 2010 by three soon-to-be graduates of The Theatre School at DePaul University, The Arc has been in artistic residence at "Shakespeare on the Ridge" and now moves full time to Evanston to produce a season of classical, contemporary and new works with a relentless commitment to quality of process and craft. Having gained a reputation for intimate story-telling and rich creative experiences for both audience and artist, The Arc works with some of the most provocative theater practitioners in the Chicago area to create its one-of-a kind renditions. Steel Magnolias ends the season of "The Prodigal Daughter."