NSU will stage ‘Steel Magnolias’

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present the play “Steel Magnolias,” the play by Natchitoches native and NSU alum Robert Harling, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2-Saturday, April 5 and Tuesday, April 8 – Friday, April 11, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 6.  Performances will take place in the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts’ Treen Auditorium.  Reservations are required.

“Steel Magnolias” is a comedy-drama about the bond among a group of Southern women in a small northwest Louisiana town.  Harling based the play on his experience with his sister’s death.  The title suggests the female characters are as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel. A writer friend following the death advised him to write it down to come to terms with the experience. He did but originally as a short story by which his nephew to get an understanding of the child’s deceased mother. It eventually evolved in ten days to a play performed Off Broadway before being adapted into the locally filmed movie in 1989.

Dr. Vicki Parrish, professor of theatre, is director. The cast includes Ashley Webster of Bossier City as Truvy, Mona Nasrawi of Covington as Annelle, Shannon Komlosfske of Alvin, Texas, as Clairee, Tyra Morrison of St. Francisville as Ouizer, Alisha Munds of Shreveport as M’Lynn and Jessica Miller of Mansfield as Shelby.

Stage manager is Brittany McMahon of Baton Rouge.  Assistant stage managers are Hannah Williams of Baton Rouge and Dillon Dewitt of Galveston, Texas.  Allen Powers of Highland Village, Texas, is set designer and Mitchell Martin of Benbrook, Texas, is lighting designer.  Cyndi Rehage of Kinder is costumer.

Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors over 65 and children 12 and under.  Admission is free to students enrolled in NSU, LSMSA and Bossier Parish Community College@NSU with current ID and sticker.

For ticket information and to make reservations, contact Jane Norman at (318) 357-4483.