Steel Magnolias at Carrollwood Cultural Center

MONICA VAN NORT (M’Lynn) moved from Ohio to Florida with her husband and two children in 2020. She was introduced to community theater in Zanesville, Ohio when she was cast as Truvy in Steel Magnolias in 2008. She has participated in many shows over the last 17 years. Her favorite roles to date are the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz (for obvious reasons), M’Lynn Eatonton from Steel Magnolias, and Birdie Hubbard from Little Foxes; though she enjoys every role she is blessed to be cast in. This performance is dedicated to a good friend, Dee McCarthy; the one who exposed Monica to community theater and with whom Monica had the privilege to play alongside in several shows (RIP dear friend).

RYAN MACLEAN (Shelby) is so pleased to make her Carrollwood Cultural Center debut in Steel Magnolias, one of her most favorite plays. She previously appeared in Tinytypes and Stage Door (Francis Wilson Playhouse), Company (Eight O'Clock Theater), and Peter Pan (Masque Theatre). Her most treasured credit is a role by the name of "Mommy" at a playhouse where the director is very tiny yet quite opinionated.

CANDACE DEL RIO (Annelle) is a professional singer and actress in the Tampa and Orlando area. Some of her credits include Peggy in The Andrews Brothers with Breakroom Ent., Lilly in Alabama Story with Powerstories Theatre, and Pippi in Stageworks’ production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical for which she was nominated for an award with Theatre Tampa. As her day-job, she sings with several bands in the area playing at weddings, events, bars, and theme parks but her true love is the work that is performed on stages like this one. Candace is thrilled to be a part of this classic show alongside such an amazing group of women and wonderful crew.

JUDY HECK LOWRY (Clairee; u/s M’Lynn) is thrilled to return to Center, where she played Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. She played Kate in All My Sons (Monti Award) and Mom in True West at Plant City Entertainment, Clairee in Steel Magnolias at Carrollwood Players, and performed at the Billymunk and Direct Theatres (NYC), Asolo Rep, Town & Country Playhouse, and Huron Playhouse, among others. Favorites include Eliza, Look Homeward, Angel; Beatrice, A View from the Bridge; Toby, Gingerbread Lady; Mother Abbess, Sound of Music. Training: HB Studios (NYC), Asolo Conservatory, The Ohio State University. Judy is an ICF Master Certified Coach (Lifecoach.com).

LIZ ANDERSON (Truvy) is a Tampa native holding a master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of South Florida. Usually off sailing the seas as a vocalist, she is excited for her first show with Carrollwood Cultural Center. Previous credits include Girl in ONCE, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn The Floor, and Syds Norman’s Pour House. 

An alum of Chicago’s Goodman School of Drama, DONNE PETITO (Ouiser) has performed extensively in New Jersey. Favorite roles include Linda in Death of a Salesman, Rosemary in Picnic, Sonia in Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Maude in Bakersfield Mist, and Widow Quin in Playboy of the Western World (for which she won a NJ Perry Award) as well as Sr. Aloysius in Doubt, Gertrude in Hamlet, and Charlotte in Beyond Therapy. Locally, she’s appeared in Exit Laughing, 4000 Miles, The Mousetrap, Unnecessary Farce and, most recently, as Helen Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express. She is thrilled to be playing Ouiser with this incredibly talented group of people.

RENA ROMANO (Swing: Truvy, Clairee, Ouiser) began her stage career as a Professional Keynote and TEDx Speaker. Longing to fulfill a lifelong dream she closed her Speaking and Coaching business at the end of 2022 setting her sights on film, theater, and modeling. A mere three days into her new career she was cast in a short film, and her acting career blossomed from there. Going from a background actor, to supporting, to the lead actor in several short and feature films. She was nominated for Best Actress in 2024 for a comedy short called “Goes by Lefty” for the Orlando OIF film festival.

AVA MEYER (Swing: Annelle, Shelby) is thrilled to be swinging for Annelle and Shelby in Steel Magnolias. She is currently a student at University of South Florida with a Theatre Performance major. She was most recently in USF’s production of Arturo Ui (Wounded Woman, Sheet, and Defense Counsel). Ava would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support, it is what keeps her motivated to continue theatre! 

WILLIAM ASHBURN (D.J. Voice) is thrilled to be making his Tampa theatre debut with this fantastic production. Past credits include The Shadowbox (Joe), Mrs. Sherlock (Thomas Chapman), Peter/Wendy (Smee), Enemy/Flint (Martin Keele).  

ROBERT HARLING (author) Robert Harling made his directorial debut with "The Evening Star" for Paramount, which he also wrote for the screen based on Larry McMurty’s novel. "The Evening Star" reunited Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson and co-stars Juliette Lewis, Bill Paxton, Scott Wolf, Miranda Richardson, and Marion Ross. "The Evening Star" is the continuation of one of the most beloved and acclaimed movies of our time, "Terms of Endearment." Before launching a successful stage and screenwriting career, Robert graduated from Tulane University School of Law, but instead of taking the bar exam, he opted to become an actor in New York. After years of productive work as an actor in voiceovers and commercials, Harling was inspired to write the highly acclaimed stage play STEEL MAGNOLIAS, which was based on events from his personal life. STEEL MAGNOLIAS continues to thrive in theatrical productions throughout the world. Immediately bridging a career from stage to screen, Harling adapted his original play into the popular film of the same title, which starred Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, and Daryl Hannah. Over the years, Mr. Harling has become a much sought-after screenwriter: other credits, to name a few, include "Soapdish," which was based on Harling’s acting experience and starred Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Downey Jr., and "FIRST WIVES CLUB" for Paramount, starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton.

(Director, Sound Design) is a Tampa native and award-winning freelance director. At Carrollwood Cultural Center, he directed The Glass Menagerie in 2023. He has directed works at Urbanite Theatre, University of South Florida, New Tampa Players, Tampa Fringe, and Carrollwood Players, among others. His The Normal Heart at Carrollwood Players was named one of Tampa Bay’s “Top 10 Most Powerful Productions of 2021” by BroadwayWorld.com. He adjudicates for Florida State Thespians and the Educational Theatre Association, serving as a Thespy Awards and Mainstage adjudicator nationwide. Up next: AIDA at MAD Theatre of Tampa (June 2025). MFA: Florida State University.

A Tampa Bay native, TYLER TEMPLE (Stage Manager) received his BA in Theatre Arts from the University of South Florida. Steel Magnolias marks his 10th year of stage managing. Selected credits include Deathtrap, The SpongeBob Musical, Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy, Matilda, Titanic, Seussical (Carrollwood Cultural Center); Green Day’s American Idiot (American Stage); Tick, Tick… Boom! (Spanish Lyric Theatre); A Doll’s House (Carrollwood Players.) He gives many thanks to his mom and friends for their continuing support. Thank you for supporting live theatre and the arts!

PAYTON VAN NORT (1st Assistant Stage Manager) is ecstatic to make her Tampa debut with this production. She is a recent graduate from Marietta College, having received a B.F.A. in Theatre Directing. Previous credits include Stratum: An Original Musical (SM), Love’s Labor’s Lost (ASM), and Spring Awakening (ASM).