‘Steel Magnolias’ Cast Find Connections To Roles
September 27, 2017 at 5:59 p.m.
‘Steel Magnolias’ Cast Find Connections To Roles
By David [email protected]
Tammie Robinson, who plays M’lynn, lost a daughter just like her character. M’lynn is the mother of Shelby, played by Kayley Herbruck, who is Robinson’s niece.
In the play, Shelby has Type I diabetes, a disease that Cindy Nash has dealt with for 31 years. Nash plays Clairee Belcher in the play. Part of the proceeds from “Steel Magnolias” will go to diabetes research.
Katie Anders plays Ouiser Boudreaux, and though she’s a bit younger than the role called for, Anders said she’s just as outspoken as the character.
Then there’s Nicole Miller, who plays Truvy Jones. Miller said she’s just as happy and talkative as Truvy.
The sixth role, Annelle, is played by Katie Smallegan, who was ill and not available at rehearsals Tuesday.
“Steel Magnolias” will be at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-7 and 2 p.m. Oct. 8. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office or online at wagonwheelcenter.org.
Robinson lost her daughter to cancer seven years ago, so she said she knows what it’s like to lose a child like M’lynn does in the play.
“When I auditioned, I didn’t have to imagine. I know. My No. 1 support is my faith. ... The play doesn’t talk about faith, but my personal story is about faith,” Robinson said.
She said she’s prayed and has to rely on the Lord to give her strength to do the role well.
When Robinson and Herbruck found out they were both going to audition for the play, they asked if they could audition together. Twenty-four women auditioned for the six roles, according to director Madisson Heinl. When Robinson and Herbruck saw the final cast list and got their parts, they texted each other because they were so excited, Robinson recalled.
“It’s fun. I was really looking forward to it,” Robinson said.
“I like that (this show) is a group of strong badass women who can stand up for themselves,” Herbruck said.
She said it’s fun to have her aunt play her mother.
“Shelby and her mother have a really close relationship,” Herbruck said, adding that she and Robinson also are close.
Wanting to get her role right as far as playing someone with diabetes, Herbruck said she talked to people with the disease and watched several videos.
She thinks it’s “a really great idea” that part of the play’s proceeds are going to diabetes research. “I think it’s awesome that Center Street Community Theatre has gotten to the point where we can do something like that,” she said.
Nash said, “I’ve always loved the movie. It’s a classic. Being a Type I diabetic myself, I’m so glad it’s in the movie and part of the show’s proceeds are going to the Juvenile Diabetes Association. I’m in year 31 of having diabetes, so it’s a cause near and dear to my heart.”
She’s found it fun to be in an all-woman show.
“By being a female cast, it didn’t take long for us to bond. Madisson purposefully had us bond. We had a movie night at my house. We did different activities together," Nash said.
The play, which came before the 1989 film version, is completely set in Truvy Jones’ beauty salon. Jones was played by Dolly Parton in the movie.
“Truvy is the hairdresser and the whole play takes place in her hair salon. She keeps things going, keeps the conversations going. It’s kind of her terrain. She’s bubbly, smiles a lot and she has a lot of philosophies and policies,” Miller said.
“I am a peacemaker for sure. I like to keep conversations going. I am a happy person, but she’s heads and tails above me,” Miller said in comparing herself to her character.
Anders said she knew there was an age difference between herself and Ouiser, but she saw many similarities between her and the character.
“Ouiser and I both are sarcastic and outgoing. You also can always add makeup,” Anders said. “It’s nice because in theater, you can be anyone you want to be – old or young.”
Later she added, “I do relate to Ouiser because we say what’s on our minds and we don’t sugarcoat it.”
Being in an all-woman production, Anders said, is nice because “you see how much female empowerment you can embody. Females on and off the stage, we just get each other.”
“Steel Magnolias” is the first full-length production that Heinl has directed. She has directed some drama teams, helped direct the CSCT?improv team and sketches in college, and co-wrote and co-directed last March’s “Off the Wagon” sketch show at the Wagon Wheel, which featured “The Bachelor” Ben Higgins and other local celebrities.
She loves acting, but found that as the director, “you have to think of everything for every character all the time, so that’s a different experience all together. But it’s been good,” she said.
“These women are very strong and very responsible,” Heinl said, “and they have just banded together and formed a really strong bond with one another and they have great stories as individuals. It’s been a really cool and unique experience to have this be my first show.”
Heinl said she knew she wanted to do a show that other people would know and connect to. She loves comedy, which “Steel Magnolias” has, but the play also has deeper moments and heart-wrenching scenes, which was different for her.
“I know there’s a lot of buzz in the community looking forward to it,” Heinl said.
Robert Harling wrote “Steel Magnolias” in memory of his sister Susan, who died from complications of Type I diabetes.
“One of the nights of the show will actually be on the late Susan Harling’s birthday, Oct. 7,” Heinl said. “I did not choose the dates for the show, and I did not know until this summer after I had chosen the show. But there’s so many links to the show, that, I almost didn’t choose the show, it chose me in many ways.”
Assistant director is Rebecca Crim, and stage manager is Emilie Judy.
Tammie Robinson, who plays M’lynn, lost a daughter just like her character. M’lynn is the mother of Shelby, played by Kayley Herbruck, who is Robinson’s niece.
In the play, Shelby has Type I diabetes, a disease that Cindy Nash has dealt with for 31 years. Nash plays Clairee Belcher in the play. Part of the proceeds from “Steel Magnolias” will go to diabetes research.
Katie Anders plays Ouiser Boudreaux, and though she’s a bit younger than the role called for, Anders said she’s just as outspoken as the character.
Then there’s Nicole Miller, who plays Truvy Jones. Miller said she’s just as happy and talkative as Truvy.
The sixth role, Annelle, is played by Katie Smallegan, who was ill and not available at rehearsals Tuesday.
“Steel Magnolias” will be at the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-7 and 2 p.m. Oct. 8. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office or online at wagonwheelcenter.org.
Robinson lost her daughter to cancer seven years ago, so she said she knows what it’s like to lose a child like M’lynn does in the play.
“When I auditioned, I didn’t have to imagine. I know. My No. 1 support is my faith. ... The play doesn’t talk about faith, but my personal story is about faith,” Robinson said.
She said she’s prayed and has to rely on the Lord to give her strength to do the role well.
When Robinson and Herbruck found out they were both going to audition for the play, they asked if they could audition together. Twenty-four women auditioned for the six roles, according to director Madisson Heinl. When Robinson and Herbruck saw the final cast list and got their parts, they texted each other because they were so excited, Robinson recalled.
“It’s fun. I was really looking forward to it,” Robinson said.
“I like that (this show) is a group of strong badass women who can stand up for themselves,” Herbruck said.
She said it’s fun to have her aunt play her mother.
“Shelby and her mother have a really close relationship,” Herbruck said, adding that she and Robinson also are close.
Wanting to get her role right as far as playing someone with diabetes, Herbruck said she talked to people with the disease and watched several videos.
She thinks it’s “a really great idea” that part of the play’s proceeds are going to diabetes research. “I think it’s awesome that Center Street Community Theatre has gotten to the point where we can do something like that,” she said.
Nash said, “I’ve always loved the movie. It’s a classic. Being a Type I diabetic myself, I’m so glad it’s in the movie and part of the show’s proceeds are going to the Juvenile Diabetes Association. I’m in year 31 of having diabetes, so it’s a cause near and dear to my heart.”
She’s found it fun to be in an all-woman show.
“By being a female cast, it didn’t take long for us to bond. Madisson purposefully had us bond. We had a movie night at my house. We did different activities together," Nash said.
The play, which came before the 1989 film version, is completely set in Truvy Jones’ beauty salon. Jones was played by Dolly Parton in the movie.
“Truvy is the hairdresser and the whole play takes place in her hair salon. She keeps things going, keeps the conversations going. It’s kind of her terrain. She’s bubbly, smiles a lot and she has a lot of philosophies and policies,” Miller said.
“I am a peacemaker for sure. I like to keep conversations going. I am a happy person, but she’s heads and tails above me,” Miller said in comparing herself to her character.
Anders said she knew there was an age difference between herself and Ouiser, but she saw many similarities between her and the character.
“Ouiser and I both are sarcastic and outgoing. You also can always add makeup,” Anders said. “It’s nice because in theater, you can be anyone you want to be – old or young.”
Later she added, “I do relate to Ouiser because we say what’s on our minds and we don’t sugarcoat it.”
Being in an all-woman production, Anders said, is nice because “you see how much female empowerment you can embody. Females on and off the stage, we just get each other.”
“Steel Magnolias” is the first full-length production that Heinl has directed. She has directed some drama teams, helped direct the CSCT?improv team and sketches in college, and co-wrote and co-directed last March’s “Off the Wagon” sketch show at the Wagon Wheel, which featured “The Bachelor” Ben Higgins and other local celebrities.
She loves acting, but found that as the director, “you have to think of everything for every character all the time, so that’s a different experience all together. But it’s been good,” she said.
“These women are very strong and very responsible,” Heinl said, “and they have just banded together and formed a really strong bond with one another and they have great stories as individuals. It’s been a really cool and unique experience to have this be my first show.”
Heinl said she knew she wanted to do a show that other people would know and connect to. She loves comedy, which “Steel Magnolias” has, but the play also has deeper moments and heart-wrenching scenes, which was different for her.
“I know there’s a lot of buzz in the community looking forward to it,” Heinl said.
Robert Harling wrote “Steel Magnolias” in memory of his sister Susan, who died from complications of Type I diabetes.
“One of the nights of the show will actually be on the late Susan Harling’s birthday, Oct. 7,” Heinl said. “I did not choose the dates for the show, and I did not know until this summer after I had chosen the show. But there’s so many links to the show, that, I almost didn’t choose the show, it chose me in many ways.”
Assistant director is Rebecca Crim, and stage manager is Emilie Judy.
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