Steel Magnolias Auditions
Auditions for the Royal Players’ production of Steel Magnolias will be held January 20-21 at 6:30 p.m. at the theater at 111 S. Market in Downtown Benton. There may be a set of callbacks January 23. Production dates are March 7-10 and 14-17. Director is Gina Welch; producer Lisa Goodrich. The director requests that actors auditioning for Shelby be at least seventeen. The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a "good ole boy." Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. This is a nonmusical with a small cast of women. Many people are familiar with the Dolly Parton movie. Theater contacts: 501-315-5483 theroyalplayers.com
