Steel Magnolias

Types: Full-Length Play

Genre: Comedy/Drama

*** All Ages are Relative ***

Truvy Jones – Truvy is in her late thirties and owns a hair salon, which is the setting for the play. She is quite the gossip, and loves to be in everyone’s personal affairs. Her two sons are Louie, who attends Louisiana State University, and Poot, who is to work with her cousin in Baltimore. She is married to a man named Spud Jones who she describes as a “lazy old man.” Truvy treats Annelle as a daughter, even though they are not related. She also loves listening to other people’s romantic experiences.

Annelle Dupuy-Desoto – Annelle is young, between eighteen and twenty-five. She is new in town, and seeks out a job as a hair stylist at Truvy’s salon and a room in a boarding house due to her lack of money. Annelle is a shy, private, and creative individual. She is kind and gracious towards the women she meets in the beauty salon.

Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie – Shelby, mid-twenties, is the daughter of M’Lynn Eatenton. At the start of the play, she is about to get married to Jackson Latcherie. She has diabetes, but does not want her medical background to define her nor does she want to rely on others. She is a pediatric nurse and she wants to have children. However, it is not recommended for her to have children because of her medical conditions. She wants to have a very romantic and peaceful marriage instead of the hectic relationship that her parents have.

Ouiser Bourdeaux – Ousier is an older woman in her late fifties to early sixties, often described as “bitter” or “annoyed.” The things she values the most are her dog Rhett and her property. She is constantly arguing with M’Lynn’s husband Drum over property, but does have a deep and genuine concern for Shelby and her health. Even though she speaks poorly to the other women sometimes, she still considers them her closest companions. She has been married twice and has children.

M’Lynn Eatenton – M’Lynn is the mother of Shelby. She also has two sons named Tommy and Jonathan, Shelby’s brothers. She is around 40 years old. She is also the wife of Drum Eatenton, whom she believes is “crazy.” She is the administrator of the Mental Guidance Center. Her main priority is her daughter Shelby; she takes great care of her daughter, almost to the point of becoming overprotective. On the surface, she appears strong and collected, but deep down she is fragile.

Clairee Belcher – Clairee is the mayor’s widow and the owner of the local radio station. She is older, around her late fifties. She is known for her “smart mouth” and “sweet tooth.” She often puts herself down, but tends to remain playful whenever a serious topic arises. She is the only woman in the play without children, but she maintains close ties with her relatives.

Truvy Jones – Amanda Lashmit
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto – Macy Weinfurter
Clairee Belcher – Janet Fulton
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie – Shealagh Burke
M’lynn Eatenton – Monica Reichl
Ouiser Boudreaux – Cheri Gilbert

Director – Sarah Gibbon
Stage Manager – Josh Somers
Assistant Stage Manager – Peggy Messner
Lights – Jason Middle
Sound Design – Sarah Gibbon
Set Construction – Danniell Garcia
Set Dressing – Jose Somers

“Fate is a really funny thing”.  Truly.  This show was supposed to be a different show.  I had planned for an altogether different piece of art to bring to you:  down to the set, the costumes, who I had in for the cast of characters, the look, the feel, the sound – everything was supposed to be different.  Yet, Fate would have it, that I landed this wonderfully, iconic piece of theater that sat towards the bottom of my bucket list.

And Fate certainly knows best.  What a time to bring to the stage a story about love, friendship, and putting aside the squabbles of everyday life and coming together to share in laughter, in playful gossip, and silly banter.  I think it’s an important story to remind everyone about the smaller picture that is often forgotten when we are reaching for the greater picture in life.  It’s okay to bask in the ordinary and the everyday.  A gentle reminder for us all.

I hope you enjoy as these beautiful women bring to life this story of friendship and of strong women facing the unimaginable with grit and with love.