Soulstice Theatre Presents...Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling
Soulstice Theatre presents the heart-warming and hilarious comedy Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling. Steel Magnolias opens on April 8, 2010 and runs through April 24, 2010 with all performances beginning at 7:30PM.
“If you can’t find anything good to say about anybody, come sit by me.” These words of wisdom sum up Robert Harling’s off-Broadway sensation and subsequent classic film (featuring Sally Fields and Julia Roberts), Steel Magnolias. Set in a beauty parlor in Chinquapin, Louisiana, Steel Magnolias illustrates how the lives of six very different women and very dear friends interweave through small town gossip that scores the unending cycle of birth, marriage, and death. “I’m not crazy; I’ve just been in a very bad mood for forty years!” Filled with hilarious Southern banter and humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play draws on the six women’s underlying strength and love; in both good times and bad.
Soulstice Theatre’s Steel Magnolias features a cast of six of Milwaukee’s most talented actresses. Collectively, these six women have appeared on almost every stage in Milwaukee.
Steel Magnolias welcomes two new faces to Soulstice Theatre. Sandra Stark joins the Soulstice Theatre family as Clairee Belcher; Chinquapin’s grande dame of gossip. Sandra has appeared with has appeared with The Boulevard Ensemble Theatre, Spiral Theatre, and Acacia Theatre. Sally Marks also makes her debut with Soulstice Theatre as the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser Boudreaux. Sally has appeared with the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Sunset Playhouse, The Boulevard Ensemble Theatre, and RSVP Productions.
Soulstice Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias also features several other Soulstice Theatre alumni. Kelly Simon (Soulstice’s Lend Me A Tenor and A Tuna Christmas) returns to the Soulstice stage as sweet and stubborn, Shelby Eatenton –Latcherie. Allison Roth joins the company as the naïve new girl in town, Annelle Dupuy-Desoto. Allison was last seen at Soulstice Theatre in the sold out run of The Laramie Project. Katie Lyn Hardt (Soulstice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once on This Island, and Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida) is also featured as the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy Jones. Also joining the cast of Steel Magnolias as M’Lynn Eatenton, the strong-willed social leader of Chinquapin, is Margaret Casey. Margaret serves on Soulstice Theatre’s Board of Directors and has appeared in several Soulstice Theatre productions, including Another Antigone and It’s Only a Play.
Jeffrey S. Berens, Soulstice Theatre’s Managing Director, leads the cast of Steel Magnolias, with his real life staging of this humorous and heart-warming production. Jeffrey directed Soulstice Theatre’s staging of Love Letters and co-directed the 2008 staging of The Laramie Project. Jeffrey has also served as producer for numerous shows at Soulstice Theatre, including Wit, Chicago, and To Gillian on her 37th Birthday.
The quaint beauty parlor set is designed by Mark E. Schuster. Steel Magnolias features lighting and sound design by A.J. Simon. The production also features costumes by Sharon Sohner and hair and wig design by Al Oldham.
Part of Soulstice’s mission is to give back to the community that gives us so much. Every show that Soulstice Theatre produces donates a percentage of its box office to a charity chosen by the cast and production team during the rehearsal process. For Steel Magnolias, Soulstice has chosen The Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This organization’s mission is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Until a cure is found, JDRF is also committed to working tirelessly to develop new and better treatments to improve the lives of people who have type 1 diabetes and keep them as healthy as possible.
Steel Magnolias previews on Thursday, April 8th at 7:30PM. Opening night will be Friday, April 9th at 7:30PM. Additional performances are; Saturday, April 10th, Friday, April 16th, Saturday, April 17th, Firday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th at 7:30PM. All performances will take place in the Soulstice Academy Studio Theatre on the fourth floor of the Marian Center for Non-Profits. The Marian Center is located at 3211 South Lake Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53207 on Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront.
Reservations for Soulstice Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias can be made at www.soulsticetheatre.org or by calling Soulstice Theatre at 414-431-3187 and are strongly encouraged.
