Steel Magnolias - The Call Is Places - Guthrie Theater
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The Call Is Places
2019–2020 SUBSCRIBER NEWSLETTER
Steel Magnolias
Oct 26 – Dec 15
McGuire Proscenium Stage
WELCOME
2019–2020
SEASON
From Artistic Director
Joseph Haj
The Glass
Menagerie
Sept 14 – Oct 27, 2019
Wurtele Thrust Stage
Dear Friends,
Let me start with a confession: Before Steel Magnolias surfaced in our
Steel Magnolias season planning discussions, I had never read the play, seen the play or
Oct 26 – Dec 15, 2019 watched the famed 1989 film. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. Our esteemed
McGuire Proscenium Stage director Lisa Rothe and several members of our creative team were just as
unfamiliar with this sharp-witted and irreverently funny group of Southern
A Christmas Carol women. But the moment we immersed ourselves in the script and their
Nov 12 – Dec 29, 2019 stories, we fell in love with each and every one of them, quirks and all.
Wurtele Thrust Stage
Robert Harling wrote the play as an homage to his late sister, Susan,
Noura which explains the deep honor and care he gives to his “steel magnolias.”
Jan 11 – Feb 16, 2020
McGuire Proscenium Stage
I continue to be struck by how much these women love and care for each
other despite their differences. They each have their own highs and lows,
but they face everything life throws at them together. That is the secret
Twelfth Night
Feb 8 – March 22, 2020
to their strength, and, as Harling hints at in the title, that is what makes
Wurtele Thrust Stage them flourish.
The Bacchae Steel Magnolias is a celebration of strong women, so I’m thrilled that
Feb 29 – April 5, 2020 this play is being directed and designed by an all-female team who
McGuire Proscenium Stage is supported by our outstanding staff at the Guthrie. In that spirit,
many women who worked behind the scenes are featured throughout
Emma the program, and their presence is embedded in every aspect of this
April 11 – May 31, 2020 heartfelt production.
Wurtele Thrust Stage
Thank you for joining us, and I hope you enjoy the show as much as we
Destiny of Desire enjoyed bringing it to the stage.
May 30 – July 11, 2020
McGuire Proscenium Stage
Yours,
Cabaret
June 20 – Aug 23, 2020
Wurtele Thrust Stage
Sweat
July 25 – Aug 29, 2020
McGuire Proscenium Stage
Visit guthrietheater.org for
additional productions and
play descriptions.
2 \ GUTHRIE THEATER PHOTO: T CHARLES ERICKSON
Steel Magnolias
by Robert Harling
Sponsored by
Cast
in alphabetical order
SHELBY Nicole King*
M’LYNN Melissa Maxwell*
ANNELLE Adelin Phelps
The Guthrie gratefully recognizes
TRUVY Austene Van*
Garry Jenkins & Jon Lee as
Associate Producers.
CLAIREE Amy Van Nostrand*
OUISER Sally Wingert*
Setting
A beauty salon in Chinquapin,
Louisiana, in the 1980s.
Run Time
Approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes
Creative Team
(including intermission) DIRECTOR Lisa Rothe
SCENIC DESIGNER Narelle Sissons
Recorded Radio DJ Voice
Elizabeth Reese* COSTUME DESIGNER Kara Harmon
LIGHTING DESIGNER Cat Tate Starmer
Acknowledgments
Steel Magnolias is presented by special SOUND DESIGNER/COMPOSER Jane Shaw
arrangement with Dramatists Play
Service, Inc., New York. RESIDENT DRAMATURG Carla Steen
Originally produced by the WPA RESIDENT VOICE COACH Jill Walmsley Zager
Theatre, New York City, 1987
(Kyle Renick, artistic director). STAGE MANAGER Jason Clusman*
Special thanks to Beauty Lounge ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Katie Hawkinson*
Minneapolis and Curl Power Salon. Jamie J. Kranz*
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Laura Leffler
NYC CASTING CONSULTANT McCorkle Casting, Ltd.
DESIGN ASSISTANTS Polly Bilski (costumes)
Alexi Carlson (lighting)
C Andrew Mayer (sound)
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
3 \ GUTHRIE THEATER
THE PLAY
“I would rather
have 30 minutes
of wonderful
than a lifetime of
nothing special.”
– Shelby to M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias
Synopsis
Truvy’s salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, is a gathering place and
SETTING
sanctuary for a close-knit group of women from the neighborhood.
A beauty salon in Chinquapin,
Recently widowed Clairee is adjusting to life without her husband, who
Louisiana, in the 1980s.
was the town’s former mayor. Ouiser, a wealthy curmudgeon, finds any
excuse to bicker and complain. Truvy has hired young Annelle just in
CHARACTERS
time to get Shelby and her mother, M’Lynn, ready for Shelby’s wedding
Truvy, the owner of a
later that day, and the women’s excitement fills the beauty shop with
beauty salon
gossip, warmth and familiarity.
Annelle, Truvy’s assistant
When the normally friendly Shelby suddenly becomes cranky, everyone in the salon
realizes her blood sugar has dropped, and the women fuss over her and Clairee, the grande dame
give her juice until she’s recovered. Shelby’s health is fragile because widow of the former mayor
she’s diabetic, which makes M’Lynn worry about her daughter’s choices
M’Lynn, a socially prominent
and the physical toll Shelby’s body may not be able to bear.
career woman
Over the next few years, as Clairee fills the void left by her husband’s Shelby, M’Lynn’s daughter and
death, Annelle embraces life in Chinquapin and Ouiser strikes up a new bride-to-be
friendship, Truvy’s salon remains at the center of their lives and becomes Ouiser, a wealthy curmudgeon
an oasis when tragedy strikes.
4 \ GUTHRIE THEATER PHOTOS: MELISSA MAXWELL AND NICOLE KING; AUSTENE VAN (NATHAN DALE STUDIOS)
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright Robert Harling
“I always thought the women in my community were so witty and
clever. In a lot of ways, they talked in bumper stickers.”
– Robert Harling on the women who inspired Steel Magnolias
Robert Harling is an actor, playwright, screenwriter and director
who was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He graduated from Tulane
University School of Law but opted to become an actor instead of
taking the bar exam. After successfully working in voiceovers and
commercials, Harling was inspired to write the highly acclaimed stage
play Steel Magnolias based on his mother and sister.
The play premiered off-Broadway in 1987, and Harling bridged his career
from stage to screen by adapting his original play into the popular
1989 film of the same name starring Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl
Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts.
Harling continues to be a sought-after screenwriter whose credits
include Soapdish, The First Wives Club, Laws of Attraction and The
Evening Star, which he also directed.
Director Lisa Rothe
“I was struck by the familiarity of these women gathered together
in a salon in Louisiana. I was moved by their generosity with one
another, their vulnerability, their deep wit and humor — powerful
qualities that helped them through some of life’s more difficult
and painful episodes.”
– Lisa Rothe on reading Steel Magnolias for the first time
Lisa Rothe is a New York City-based freelance theater director, coach and
educator. Most recently, her production of Hold These Truths by Jeanne
Sakata won three Theatre Bay Area Awards for the Tony Award-winning
TheatreWorks, including Outstanding Direction of a Play and Outstanding
Production of a Play. She has recently directed at Kansas City Repertory
Theatre (Fun Home, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Indiana Repertory Theatre,
Irish Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Two River
Theater, People’s Light and PlayMakers Repertory Company.
Rothe is the director of new works at Kansas City Repertory Theatre,
co-artistic director of The Actors Center, recent co-president of the
League of Professional Theatre Women, Usual Suspect with New York
Theatre Workshop, member of the National Theatre Conference and
former Drama League and Fox Fellow. For more than five years, Rothe
was the director of Global Exchange at The Lark, where she provided
expanded opportunities for playwrights with a focus on advancing
new work to production nationally and globally. Learn more at
www.lisarothe.com.
5 \ GUTHRIE THEATER
PLAY FEATURE
From Script
to Screenplay
Two years before the 1989 film Steel
Magnolias stole America’s heart and
launched Julia Roberts to stardom, the
play that inspired the movie premiered
off-Broadway. Use this handy guide to
learn more about the two works written
by Robert Harling.
1987 PLAY 1989 FILM
A graduate of Tulane University School of Law, Six months after the play’s opening, producer Ray
Harling moved to New York City instead of pursuing Stark asked Harling to adapt his play for the screen.
a law career. He acted in voiceovers and commercials Stark’s proposal to shoot in Harling’s Louisiana
before becoming a playwright. hometown clinched the deal.
After Harling’s sister died from diabetic The cast included Olympia Dukakis (Clairee), Sally
complications, he began writing a short story in her Field (M’Lynn), Daryl Hannah (Annelle), Shirley
honor. When he realized the witty dialogue was best MacLaine (Ouiser), Dolly Parton (Truvy) and Julia
served in a play, he wrote the script in 10 days. Roberts (Shelby).
The play features six female characters, all of whom Meg Ryan was slated to play the role of Shelby, but
are based on real people — mostly his mother’s she dropped out to film When Harry Met Sally. Julia
friends — from his hometown of Natchitoches, Roberts, then a relatively unknown actor, instantly
Louisiana. He wrote the role of Truvy with actor won Harling over at her audition.
Margo Martindale in mind.
The world of the play was expanded for the film.
Steel Magnolias premiered off-Broadway on Settings were added and the male characters
March 28, 1987, and closed on February 25, 1990, appeared on screen.
after more than 1,000 performances.
Harling’s mother, who inspired the character of
The original cast featured Blanche Baker (Shelby), M’Lynn, was on set during much of the filming.
Mary Fogarty (Ouiser), Margo Martindale (Truvy),
Rosemary Prinz (M’Lynn), Constance Shulman Harling made a cameo appearance as the minister at
(Annelle) and Kate Wilkinson (Clairee). Shelby’s wedding and funeral.
The New York Times review promised audiences The same medical staff who attended to Harling’s
“an amicable evening of sweet sympathies and sister before she died attended to Shelby in the film.
smalltown chatter.”
After a day on set, the cast would play games
Harling considered the play to be a tragedy until big together. Their banter inspired Harling to write
audience laughs convinced him it was a comedy. Soapdish, which also stars Sally Field.
The play remains a staple on local and regional Reviews were mixed, but Steel Magnolias became the
stages and has been revived on Broadway. 14th highest-grossing film of 1989.
Sourced from articles in Country Living, HuffPost, Southern Living and reviews in The New York Times.
6 \ GUTHRIE THEATER
IN THE COMMUNITY
More Power to You
To help create director Lisa
Rothe’s inclusive vision for
Truvy’s Louisiana beauty
shop, the Guthrie partnered
with Rosie Jablonsky,
owner of Curl Power Salon,
who happily offered her
expertise and curl-thusiasm
to the Steel Magnolias cast
and creative team. Enjoy
this short snippet from
Artistic Assistant Morgan
Holmes’ interview with
Rosie about hair, mantras
and more.
MORGAN HOLMES: What was your MH: Tell me more about “curl love.” RJ: Steel Magnolias is one of my
first hair memory? favorite movies and pink is my
RJ: Beauty standards are a mighty signature color! I had the sweetest
ROSIE JABLONSKY: My mother would cultural force that put significant time talking about hair and history
brush my hair and put it in two neat pressure on all of us to look a and our lives with the cast — just
French braids. She always told me certain way. I think hair is an like regular clients! Because what
curly hair was beautiful, so I was amazing tool for self-expression. we offer is pretty unique, our goal
surprised (and disappointed) when My goal and mission with Curl in partnering with [Director of
I encountered people who didn’t Power Salon is to provide space for Community Engagement] Rebecca
love curly hair. my clients as they journey toward Noon and the Guthrie is to let
self-acceptance and to help them people know about Curl Power
MH: How did your relationship to see their intrinsic beauty and Salon, what we do and how it’s
identity, community and culture worth, just as they are. possible and powerful to embrace
shape your relationship with your natural texture no matter
your hair? MH: What has it been like working what that texture is. All hair is
with the Guthrie? good hair.
RJ: As a queer, Jewish woman, my
hair links me to various parts of my
identity. It helps me feel at home in SAVE THE DATE
my body and express my insides on Hear more from Rosie and her team at Hair Salon — a free community event
the outsides. Having an art medium on Monday, November 11 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the McGuire Proscenium
on my head has always helped me Stage. Inspired by the world of Steel Magnolias, this special evening of
feel like me. I want to bring people community conversation will explore hair as a historical, cultural and
personal-yet-universal human obsession.
out of a place of constant self-
deprecation and bring curl love into Reserve your seats at www.guthrietheater.org/steelmagnolias.
those conversations.
7 \ GUTHRIE THEATER PHOTO: KATIE HAWKINSON
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Beauty & Banter & Bonding
Put six powerhouse women in
the same room and things are
bound to get fun. We made
some show-inspired shirts and
invited the all-female cast of
Steel Magnolias to a special
photo shoot to celebrate their
portrayal of Robert Harling’s
witty, wisecracking characters.
Love the T-shirt? Pick up one
of your own at the Guthrie
Store on Level One.
PHOTO: LAUREN B. PHOTOGRAPHY
Next on the
Save at Area Restaurants Wurtele Thrust Stage
As a subscriber, you receive exclusive discounts at seven restaurants
within walking distance of the Guthrie. Just present your ticket at
one of the fine establishments below on the day of the show.
A Christmas
For discount details, refer to
your subscriber guide or visit
Carol
Nov 12 – Dec 29
www.guthrietheater.org/packages.
by CHARLES DICKENS
adapted by CRISPIN WHITTELL
directed by LAUREN KEATING
8 \ GUTHRIE THEATER
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