Steel Magnolias

Steel Magnolias opens at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre on March 12, 2027, and runs through March 27. It's a comedy set in Chinquapin, Louisiana, and it centers on the women who gather at Truvy's beauty salon to get their hair done. Truvy is the outspoken, wise-cracking owner who spends as much time handing out free advice as she does shampoo, and she's helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle.

Her regulars are a real mix of the town's personalities: Ouiser, the rich curmudgeon; Miss Clairee, the eccentric millionaire; and M'Lynn, the local social leader. M'Lynn's daughter, Shelby, is the prettiest girl in town and is about to marry a 'good ole boy.' The first act is built on the kind of sharp, fast-paced repartee and verbal sparring you'd expect from a group of women who've known each other for years. The second act takes a turn toward tragedy when Shelby risks her life to go through with a dangerous pregnancy.

The production is staged at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, which pairs professional artists, directors, and musicians with talented avocational performers from the community to put on live theatre year-round. It's one of those shows that starts with a lot of laughter and ends in a very different place.

Performances run Thursday through Sunday: Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM. Tickets start at $59.