Players bringing 'Steel Magnolias' to Mall of Monroe

Staff Reports
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MONROE — Monroe Community Players will present the play “Steel Magnolias” at 7 p.m. May 17-18 and at 2 p.m. May 19 at the Players’ studio theater at the Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St.

The 1987 production by Robert Harling was made into an award-winning movie in 1989. The story is based on the death of Harling’s sister in 1985 from diabetic complications after the birth of her son.

The cast of Monroe Community Players' "Steel Magnolias" is shown at a recent rehearsal.
The cast of Monroe Community Players' "Steel Magnolias" is shown at a recent rehearsal.

The story is set entirely in the beauty salon of Truvy Jones and takes place over three years.

“During this time, the women discuss relationships and deal with personal issues in their lives, especially the health and pregnancy of Shelby, which becomes the central focus of the story,” the Players said. “’Steel Magnolias’ has been described as alternately hilarious and touching and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters. This play reveals what it means to appear as delicate as a magnolia blossom, but also be as tough as steel.”

The cast includes: Kathleen McBee as Truvy Jones, Bristyn Nadeau as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, Monica Hiris as Clairee Belcher, Kori Bielaniec as Shelby Eatenton-Latcheire, Amanda Gregory as M’Lynn Eatenton and Carol Sliwka as Ouiser Boudreaux.

“This cast has been working exceptionally hard, and they are putting their own spin on these seminal characters. I believe the audience is going to enjoy every one of their performances,” said director Brian Burchette-Ross.

Ronald Roberts and Mark Thornton are the assistant directors.

“Steel Magnolias” is the first production that will use the Players’ new studio theater lighting.

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“Over the course of the past year, Monroe Community Players has been making upgrades to their space at the Mall of Monroe, and this latest improvement was made possible through the generosity and expertise of Mike Trapp, executive director for the River Raisin Center for the Arts, and a gift from the Paul W. Smith Family,” the Players said.

General admission tickets are $15 each. For more information and tickets, visit monroecommunityplayers.org.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Players bringing 'Steel Magnolias' to Mall of Monroe