STEEL MAGNOLIAS To Be Presented At Arkansas Repertory Theatre This Summer

Tickets are now on sale for Steel Magnolias, written by Robert Harling. It is the first production in The Rep's 2026 ‘Golden' SummerStage season. The production will run MAY 26 - JUNE 7.

Performances will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available at TheRep.org or by calling The Rep's Box Office at (501) 378-0405.

Ticket prices range from $25-$70, with discounts available for seniors, students, educators, and active military personnel.

This production is sponsored by Susie Rosenbaum & Bruce Maddox, Mathews Industries, and Jennifer Wilson-Harvey.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher, local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"), intelligent and compassionate career woman M'Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town. Shelby's engagement is the talk of the town, but the joy and excitement of her wedding quickly turn to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy and a myriad of health complications. As the women of Chinquapin make their ways over life's many hurdles together, they find comfort (and a fair amount of verbal ribbing) in one another. “You have no idea how wonderful you are,” M'Lynn tells the ladies at the end of the play. Truvy responds, with a smile, “Of course we do.”

First produced Off-Broadway in 1987, Steel Magnolias quickly became one of the most beloved plays in the American theatre canon. Written by Robert Harling as a tribute to his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, the play was inspired by his family's experience following Susan's battle with complications related to Type 1 diabetes.

In 1989, Harling adapted the play into the acclaimed feature film starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, and Daryl Hannah. Filmed on location in Harling's hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana, the movie introduced the story to millions and cemented Steel Magnolias as a cultural touchstone.

Nearly four decades after its premiere, Steel Magnolias continues to captivate audiences around the world with its unique blend of laughter and tears, proving that strength and tenderness are not opposites, but two sides of the same magnolia blossom.

Harling completed the first draft in just ten days, channeling his grief into a story that celebrates his sister's wit, courage, and indomitable spirit. The result is a deeply personal and universally resonant portrait of women whose relationships sustain them through life's most joyful and heartbreaking moments.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

The Rep's production features an ensemble of Arkansas artists including Miranda Jane (Designing Women, Into the Woods at The Rep) as “Truvy”, Grace Pitts (Elf, Mary Poppins at The Rep) as “Annelle”, Laurie Pascale (The Glass Menagerie at The Rep) as “Clairee”, Louisa Mauzé (Hair, Guys & Dolls at The Rep) as “Shelby”, Jane Morgan Balgavy as “M'Lynn”, and Alanna Hamill Newton (Pride & Prejudice, Ann at The Rep) as “Ouiser”.

The production is directed by Christine O'Grady (Hair at The Rep), working alongside André de Castro (Scenic Designer), Michael Ciaramitaro (Costume Designer), Faith Spencer (Lighting Designer), Multiband Studios (Sound Designer), Jenea Jordan (Wig & Hair Designer), and Luisa Ann Torres (Production Stage Manager).

“PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN” NIGHTS FOR STEEL MAGNOLIAS:

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre is excited to announce The “Pay-What-You-Can” preview performances for Steel Magnolias. Patrons are invited to the Tuesday, May 26th and Wednesday, May 27th preview performances by paying any amount they wish for tickets. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Box Office at 601 Main Street on Tuesday, May 26th from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.. For each show, there will be 100 tickets available for purchase across all two performances. Tickets are limited to two per person and are first-come, first-served. “Pay-What-You-Can” preview performances are sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

THE REP'S 2026 SUMMERSTAGE SEASON:

• Steel Magnolias | May 26 – June 7
• Ain't Misbehavin'| June 16-28
• Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat| July 8-26
• The Remarkable Resignation of Dr. Joycelyn Elders | August 11-23
• Side by Side by Sondheim | September 8-20

Steel Magnolias

By Robert Harling

May 26 – June 7

Step into Truvy's beauty shop, where hair gets higher and friendships grow deeper, as a close-knit group of women share life's ups and downs with sharp humor and unwavering love. Full of heart and unforgettable one-liners, this modern Southern classic reminds us that the bonds we forge can carry us through anything.

Ain't Misbehavin'

The Fats Waller Musical Show

June 16-28

Get ready to tap your toes and snap your fingers — Ain't Misbehavin' is a musical party set to the unforgettable music of Fats Waller. With a bandstand spirit and Harlem nightclub style, this Tony Award–winning revue brims with songs that defined an era. Flirtatious, joyful, and a little mischievous, it's pure swing from start to finish. Produced in partnership with People's Light.

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lyrics by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

July 8-26

The Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to dazzling life. Bursting with infectious songs in every style — from rock to calypso to country and more — a new vision of this beloved musical brings fresh energy, joy, and cultural richness to a show that audiences of all ages adore.

The Remarkable Resignation of Dr. Joycelyn Elders

Written & Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III

August 11-23

From sharecropper's daughter to U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders' journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Written and directed by Broadway's Steve H. Broadnax III (creator of last season's hit Me & the Devil), this world premiere play with music is a stirring portrait of resilience, conviction, and a woman who refused to be defined by anyone but herself- an Arkansas icon reclaiming her own story.

Side by Side by Sondheim

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

With Music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne

September 8-20

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Sound Design - Top 3

1. Adam Fisher - The Lost Boys

36.5% of votes

2. Tony Gayle - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

11% of votes

3. John Shivers - Chess

7.2% of votes

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