“Steel Magnolias,” the Tyrone Community Theaters latest show, is scheduled to open on Friday, February 14, at 8:00pm in the YMCA theater.
“Steel Magnolias” is set in a small town in Louisiana during the 1980s. The story revolves around six women, who are best friends. They get together every Saturday at the beauty shop. The play encompasses four Saturday’s over the period of three years, and shows the friends humorously dealing with life, and bonding together during tragedy. Thus, the name of the show: “Steel Magnolias.” The Magnolia is a delicate southern flower, reflecting southern womanhood. The steel magnolia would look delicate, but in essence would be very strong. That’s what these women are, delicate, but yet strong, as they deal with life circumstances.
We all know that tomorrow is Valentine’s day, and the play’s director Jonathan O’Harrow thinks this as a great show for a Valentine’s date. Although there are no males in the show, the male audience will enjoy the humor and the woman’s look at life. The females will identify with the characters and their predicaments.
“In spite of all that’s going on in the world; the threat of war, the economy, the audience will enjoy this, because it is a very uplifting play,” said O’Harrow.
Although the play is uplifting, it hasn’t been without a great deal of stress. O’Harrow was the director of “Smokey Joe’s Café,” which also was the Altoona Community Theater’s entry into the Pennsylvania Association of Community Theater’s PACT-FEST. Cindy Bennett, who plays Ouiser in “Steel Magnolias,” was the director for the Tyrone Community Theater’s entry, “Tell Me Another Story, Sing Me Another Song.”
The practices for “Steel Magnolias” had to be worked in around the PACT-FEST, which left only four weeks of rehearsals. O’Harrow was thrilled as the actresses rose to the occasion, and learned blocking and lines at a rapid pace. The work on the set went on, and O’Harrow is pleased how it all has come together.
It’s another quality show that the Tyrone Community can be proud of.
To order tickets, call 684-ART2.
