Flat Rock Playhouse's STEEL MAGNOLIAS Ends Run May 23

Flat Rock Playhouse will close its production of Steel Magnolias May 23rd.

Robert Harling's tribute to the resilency of Southern women is a warm and upbeat comedy about the healing power of friendship. Set in Truvy's beauty salon in Louisiana, Steel Magnolias follows a group of women who become a central part of each others' lives over the years. Filled with hilarious repartee and a touch of sadness, be ready to laugh out loud, but keep a box of tissues handy.

The cast will feature Diane J. Findlay (Ouiser), Marianne Fraulo (M'Lynn), Lauren Kennedy (Shelby), Rebecca Koon (Clairee), Pamela Myers (Truvy), and Julia VanderVeen (Annelle). 

For more information, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.com.

Flat Rock Playhouse's dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a ten-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 90,000 patrons annually and is a major contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.

The original stage production of Steel Magnolias opened at the WPA Theatre, in New York City, on 28 March 1987. It was directed by Pamela Berlin and featured Margo Martindale as Truvy, Constance Shulman as Annelle, Kate Wilkinson as Clairee, Mary Fogarty as Ouiser, Blanche Baker as Shelby and Rosemary Prinz as M'Lynn. The production moved to the Lucille Lortel Theatre on 19 June 1987, with Betsy Aidem taking over the role of Shelby.

In the spring of 2005, the play made its Broadway debut at the Lyceum Theatre. Previews of the production began March 15, 2005 and officially opened on April 4. The cast included Delta Burke as Truvy, Christine Ebersole as M'Lynn, Rebecca Gayheart as Shelby, Marsha Mason as Ouiser, Lily Rabe as Annelle and Frances Sternhagen as Clairee. At the close of its run, the staging had played 23 previews and 136 regular performances. A touring production of Steel Magnolias was expected for the 2007-08 season. Many regional theaters also perform the play each year.

Steel Magnolias was made into a feature film in 1989 starring Dolly Parton (Truvy Jones), Olympia Dukakis (Clairee Belcher), Shirley MacLaine (Louisa "Ouiser" Boudreaux), Sally Field (M'Lynn Eatenton), Julia Roberts (Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie) and Daryl Hannah (Annelle Dupuy-Desoto). Julia Roberts received her first Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actress.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski