STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Guest Starring Kim Zimmer, Opens Tuesday

With laughter through tears, the Barn Theatre shares how the bonds of female friendship can help us wade through life's hardest times in STEEL MAGNOLIAS playing July 30 - August 11.

In Chinquapin, Louisiana anybody who is anybody gets their hair done at Truvy's (Guest Artist Jennifer Furney) beauty salon. With the help of her new assistant Annelle (Barn favorite Samantha Rickard), Truvy dispenses the hottest hair dos and advice to southern ladies like rich curmudgeon, Ouiser (Guest Artist Kim Zimmer), eccentric millionaire, Miss Claire (Guest Artist Lori Moore), a local social leader, M'Lynn (Barn Leading Lady Penelope Alex), and her daughter Shelby (Barn favorite Melissa Cotton Hunter), the prettiest girl in town who is gearing up to marry a nice 'good ole boy." Filled with hilarious banter, humor, tragedy, and heart, this show exemplifies the strength of sisterhood with female characters as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel.

The play originally opened Off-Broadway at The WPA Theatre, in New York City, on March 28, 1987, with Pamela Berlin as director. The production transferred to the Lucille Lortel Theatre on June 19, 1987 and closed on February 25, 1990 after 1,126 performances. A U.S. national tour was launched in 1989. The play made its Broadway revival in 2005 and opened at the Lyceum Theatre, in previews starting on March 15, 2005, and officially opened April 4, and closed on July 31, 2005, after 23 previews and 136 performances. The first film adaptation in 1989 starred Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah. In 2012 another film adaptation was produced starring Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye, Condola Rashad, Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard.

The Barn Theatre School is thrilled to welcome back Kim Zimmer as well as community members Lori Moore and Jennifer Furney who are making their Barn Theatre debut. Audiences will undoubtedly remember Ms. Moore from her many years on WKZO morning show and The Lori Moore Show on the CW. Jennifer Furney is also a very familiar, prestigious face having grown up on stage at the New Vic Theatre in Kalamazoo.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS is directed by Hans Friedrichs, set designed by Steven Lee Burright, and costume designed by Michael Wilson Morgan. Properties are designed by Sam Rudy. Lights are designed by Lauren Gallup. Sound has been designed by Kenze Carlson. Garrylee McCormick is serving as hair/wig master, and Russ Skell is serving as Technical Director.

The Barn Theatre would like to thank STEEL MAGNOLIAS sponsor Heritage Chevrolet.

Enjoy refreshments in the Rehearsal Shed Lounge with friends before the show, during intermission, and after the show. Take in the cabaret-style show after the main stage performances while satisfying your cravings with some light snacks. Make Bar Show reservations online for the entire summer. No need to wait in line before the show! Dinners are nightly and provided by GMC catering of Galesburg. Call the Box Office for dinner reservations at (269) 731-4121.

The Barn Theatre is located on M-96, west of Augusta. Tickets range from $39-$48 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted. Group rates are available. The Box Office is open every day from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online anytime. To reserve tickets call (269) 731-4121 or visit www.barntheatreschool.org