Marsha Mason to join the cast of Steel Magnolias

Marsha Mason will star as Ouiser, the sharp-tongued and wealthy curmudgeon, in the upcoming Broadway premiere of Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Mason is a four-time Oscar nominee, having earned nods for lead roles in Cinderella Liberty, The Goodbye Girl, Chapter Two and Only When I Laugh. She has previously appeared on Broadway in Happy Birthday, Wanda June, The Good Doctor and The Night of the Iguana. Her other off-Broadway credits include Richard III, Old Times, The Big Love, Lake No Bottom, Love Letters, The Vagina Monologues and last season's Wintertime. In addition to her work as an actress, Mason owns the Resting in the River Farm, which produces herbal supplements and natural products.

Marsha Mason joins the previously announced Delta Burke who will play Truvy (the owner of the beauty shop), Christine Ebersole who will play M'Lynn (Shelby's mother), Rebecca Gayheart who will play Shelby (the bride-to-be), Lily Rabe who will play Annelle (the young beautician) and Frances Sternhagen who will play Clairee ("the former first lady of Chinquapin Parish").

Directed by Jason Moore, STEEL MAGNOLIAS begins previews March 15, 2005 and opens April 4, 2005 at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.