When the Alliance Theatre begins rehearsals for its October staging of Steel Magnolias, it’ll do so with some heady talent in the room.
Already announced is two-time Tony Award-winning actor Judith Ivey as director. She’ll be joined by Annie Potts (Broadway: Pippin, TV: “Designing Women”) as the steady M’Lynn; Becky Ann Baker (Broadway: Good People, TV: “Girls” and a slew of guest appearances including “The Good Wife” and “Smash”) as cheerful, straightforward Clairee; Mary Pat Gleason (TV: “The Guiding Light”) as cranky Ouiser; Deirdre Lovejoy (Broadway: Lucky Guy, TV: “The Wire”) as salon owner Truvy; Sarah Stiles (Broadway: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Annelle, the new girl in town; and Zoe Winters (off-Broadway: 4000 Miles and Much Ado About Nothing) as the newlywed, Shelby.
(For reference, the well-known 1989 movie version featured Sally Field as M’Lynn, Olympia Dukakis as Clairee, Shirley MacLaine as Ouiser, Dolly Parton as Truvy, Daryl Hannah as Annelle and Julia Roberts as Shelby.)
Ivey, who won her Tony awards for Steaming (1983) and Hurlyburly (1985), describes Steel Magnolias, a 1987 piece by Robert Harling, as “a love story celebrating the woman as well as the human being.”
The creative team includes Broadway set designer Michael Yeargan (South Pacific, Bridges of Madison County); costume designer Joseph G. Aulisi (Broadway: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Broadway Bound); Atlanta-based lighting designer Liz Lee (the Alliance’s Whipping Man and God of Carnage); and Atlanta sound designer Kendall Simpson (the Alliance’s Warrior Class and In Love and Warcraft).
Steel Magnolias runs Oct. 22-Nov. 9. on the Alliance mainstage. Opening night is Oct. 29. Tickets begin at $25. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.733.5000.
