Studio Tenn continues continues its 5th season with the 25th cinematic anniversary of Steel Magnolias. Rick Harling wrote the play back in 1987 in a matter of ten days as he shared his personal experience with a loss of a friend to diabetes. Steel Magnolias was first produced off Broadway but Harling sold the rights for a movie production which most remember fondly.
Studio Tenn’s production of Steel Magnolias is a cast of six, make that seven, if you count the set which is its own character throughout the show. If you saw our sneak peak, we spoke with Janie Metts, Prop Designer, who tells  us about the hours spent on Craigslist, yard sales and digging around in storage at the Factory to find all of the right pieces to make it complete. The life size pictures which hang on the back wall are enlarged ads from the 70s. Laying on the coffee table, are authentic magazines from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Be sure to notice the blue egg wig carrier…not something you see everyday.
Back to the cast of the six, southern, strong personality women as the entire play takes place in Truvy’s salon. Truvy (Margurite Lowell), you might recognize from other Studio Tenn productions or from Dawson’s Creek;Â Annelle ( Evelyn O’Neal Bush), was just voted Best Actress in Nashville and she appeared in Studio Tenn’s production of Frost/Nixon; Clairee ( Ruth Cordell) is a first timer to Studio Tenn but no first timer to acting. Cordell recently moved from Los Angles to Manchester, Tenn. with appearances in Alien Nation and Ally McBeal. Shelby played by Emily Landham, appeared in Studio Tenn’s production of The Miracle Worker.
Nan Gurley, Studio Tenn mainstay plays the part of Ouiser to a T. Her comedic timing is perfect and yet her more serious moments  are not to be missed. Shelean Newman ( M’Lynn) has the entire room silenced with her dramatic scenes toward the end of the play. You might even need to pull out the tissues toward the end. Be warned.
Overall, it is a must see for girlfriends, daughters, mothers and any woman who needs a reminder of the importance of friendship and how that looks during the good times and bad. While at first, you may be tempted to compare the play version to the cinematic version, in the end there is no comparison to live theatre, especially live theatre done in Studio Tenn fashion.
Steel Magnolias runs thru November 9th. Don’t delay in getting your tickets, as this will be a sell out. Tickets are available at Studiotenn.com.
For our sneak peek from the dress rehearsal, go here.
