PHS brings classic Southern story 'Steel Magnolias' to the stage

Melinda Martinez, Alexandria Town Talk
·1 min read
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The Pineville High School Theatre Department will present "Steel Magnolias" at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the PHS auditorium.

"Steel Magnolias", written by Robert Harling of Natchitoches, takes places in a beauty salon with six women and how they cope when one of them dies. The play is set in the fictional Louisiana town of Chinquapin.

Morgan McCorvey (left) portrays M'Lynn Eatenton, Olivia Johnson portrays Ouiser Boudreaux (right), and Donalyn White portrays Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (back, left) in the Pineville High School Theatre Department production of "Steel Magnolias."
Morgan McCorvey (left) portrays M'Lynn Eatenton, Olivia Johnson portrays Ouiser Boudreaux (right), and Donalyn White portrays Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (back, left) in the Pineville High School Theatre Department production of "Steel Magnolias."

Starring in the production are Kelly Lohman as Truvy Jones, a wise-cracking beauty salon owner; Donalyn White as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, who just moved to town from nearby Zwolle and is unsure whether she is still married; Katelyn Bush as Clairee Blecher who has a severe sweet tooth; Laura Carroll as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie who is about to be married; Morgan McCorvey as M'Lynn Eatenton, the town's social leader and Olivia Johnson as Ouiser Boudreaux, the town's cranky old lady.

Morgan McCorvey (left) portrays M'Lynn Eatenton and Laura Carroll portrays her daughter Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie in the Pineville High School Theatre Department's production of "Steel Magnolias."
Morgan McCorvey (left) portrays M'Lynn Eatenton and Laura Carroll portrays her daughter Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie in the Pineville High School Theatre Department's production of "Steel Magnolias."

The Saturday Matinee will feature Mia Rodriguez as Truvy Jones; Kara Speir as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto; Ada Shoup as Clairee Belcher; Karly Stansell as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie; Sophia Thompson as M'Lynn Eatenton; and Rose Bubenzer as Ouiser Boudreaux.

Tickets are $7 on Thursday and $12 Friday through Sunday and can be purchased at pinevillehightheatre.com

Katelyn Bush (left) portrays Clairee Belcher; Donalyn White portrays Annelle Dupuy-Desoto and Kelly Lohman portrays Truvy Jones in the Pineville High School Theatre Department's production of "Steel Magnolias."
Katelyn Bush (left) portrays Clairee Belcher; Donalyn White portrays Annelle Dupuy-Desoto and Kelly Lohman portrays Truvy Jones in the Pineville High School Theatre Department's production of "Steel Magnolias."

Harling wrote "Steel Magnolias" as a way to cope after his sister died due to diabetic complications. Chinquapin is based on Natchitoches and the characters are the women he knew including his mother and sister.

The play was an Off Broadway hit that was later adapted into a movie in 1989. It was filmed in Natchitoches and starred Dolly Parton, Sally Fields, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Daryl Hannah.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: PHS brings classic Southern story 'Steel Magnolias' to the stage