Theatre Students to Present ‘Steel Magnolias’ on Fowler Center Stage
UPDATE: Although March 3-5 performances had to be cancelled, two additional performances have been scheduled for Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. both days.
JONESBORO – The Arkansas State University Theatre is announcing the cast of the upcoming production of “Steel Magnolias,” a comedy by Robert Harling.
“Steel Magnolias” will be performed Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1, and Monday through Wednesday, March 3-5, at 7:30 p.m. each evening in the drama theatre of Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr.
Concerned with a group of gossipy Southern ladies in a small town beauty parlor in Louisiana, the play is alternately hilarious and touching – and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters, according to a Theatre spokesman.
After “Steel Magnolias” opened off-Broadway in 1987, the highly popular production had a run of more than 1,100 performances. Starting in 2005, it played on Broadway for approximately four months.
The New York Daily News has described “Steel Magnolias” in a review as “ . . . a skillfully crafted, lovingly evoked picture of eccentricity in the small-town South.”
The cast for Arkansas State University Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias” includes Morgan Carvell, a sophomore theatre major from Bentonville as Truvy Jones; Fallon Howley, a freshman theatre major from Sherwood, as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto; Virginia Hirsch, sophomore theatre major from Jacksonville, as Clairee Belcher; Becky Adams, a freshman theatre major from Morrilton, as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie; Lisa Bohn, assistant professor in theatre, as M’Lynn Eatenton; and Dru Ergle, a junior theatre major from Jonesboro, as Ouiser Boudreaux.
The production is under the stage direction of Molly Simpson, professor of theatre. Scenic and lighting design will be provided by Jeff McLaughlin, assistant professor of theatre, while Claire Abernathy, assistant professor of theatre, will serve as costume designer.
Jacob George, a sophomore theatre major from El Dorado, will provide sound design and Jordan D. Phillips, a junior theatre major from El Dorado, will serve as stage manager.
A “meet the company” dessert reception will follow the opening night performance on Feb. 28.
Tickets for reserved seating may be purchased in advance at the Central Box Office in the Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Dr., or by calling 972-ASU1. Tickets are also available online at tickets.astate.edu. Reserved seating tickets (if available) may be purchased at the door on the evening of the performance. Ticket prices are $10 ($8 in advance). Advanced reservations are highly recommended.
Children under six years old are not admitted. Patrons are asked to please arrive early; latecomers will not be seated until intermission.
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