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Steel Magnolias

By Robert Harling
Directed by Laura Braza

November 9 — December 5, 2021

Quadracci Powerhouse

Approximate Running Time: 2hrs and 30 minutes including one intermission
Recommended Age: 12 and up


A Tenderhearted Favorite

In Chinquapin, Louisiana everybody who is anybody gets their hair done at Truvy’s beauty shop—where the women are all sass and brass. Through clouds of hairspray and over the buzz of blow dryers, six southern spitfires gather each week to gossip and support each other through thick and thin. But those bonds are tested when the ladies face a life-changing event. Infused with heart and humor, Steel Magnolias is a hilarious story of love, loss, and enduring friendship.

"This is a show that everyone should see." – Star Tribune


Presented by

Executive Producers
Cheryl & Bill Guc

Associate Producer
Dr. Eric Durant


COVID PROTOCOLS

As announced in September, all patrons will be required to follow the protocols listed below when attending our productions. For those 12 and older:

  • Proof of a full COVID vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of your performance date
  • Wear masks through your time in our building

Note: If a patron can’t provide one of the items above, they will not be able to attend. For those audience members 11 and younger they do not need to provide the above but do need to wear a mask.

Please be sure all the people attending with you know about the COVID safety protocols.

Arrival Time
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to curtain to allow time to go through our vaccine safety check-in station before you enter the theater.

Learn more about our COVID Health & Safety protocols here.

Media Gallery

Photo Gallery

Reviews

“flavorful Steel Magnolias elicits laughter and tears”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“charming and highly entertaining comedy drama… captures the intimacy of true friendships”
Shepherd Express
“this show strikes a perfect emotional balance that steals your heart and splits your sides”
Broadway World
“It really does feel as though you are, in fact, just on the other side of the beauty parlor mirror, enjoying the banter between the ladies.”
Around The Town Chicago
“more funny one-liners than you would find in a season of Maude and The Golden Girls put together”
Urban Milwaukee

Cast

Headshot photo of Janet Ulrich Brooks *
Janet Ulrich Brooks *
M’Lynn Eatenton
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Headshot photo of Phoebe González *
Phoebe González *
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie
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Headshot photo of Rebecca Hirota *
Rebecca Hirota *
Truvy Jones
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Headshot photo of Maeve Moynihan *
Maeve Moynihan *
Annelle
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Headshot photo of Meg Thalken *
Meg Thalken *
Ouiser Boudreaux
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Headshot photo of Tami Workentin *
Tami Workentin *
Clairee Belcher
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Headshot photo of
Janet Ulrich Brooks *
M’Lynn Eatenton
Bio

A Chicago-based actor, Janet has appeared in over 15 productions with TimeLine Theatre where she is a Company Member, most recently playing Maria Callas in Master Class (Joseph Jefferson Award-Performer in a Principal Role) and garnered Jeff nominations for several other roles, including Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience. Other highlights include The Children (Steppenwolf), Tiny Beautiful Things (Victory Gardens), 2666, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, The Seagull (Goodman) and Plantation (Lookingglass). Films include: “Divergent,” “Conviction,” “One Small Hitch,” “M.O.M.” TV highlights: “Fargo,” “Sense8,” “Work in Progress,” “Boss,” “Chicago Justice/Med/Fire.”

Headshot photo of
Phoebe González *
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie
Bio

Phoebe is a Mexican-Irish-American actor and singer born and raised in Washington Heights (yes, like the musical!). Chicago credits include work with Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Marriott Theatre, Teatro Vista, The Hypocrites and Writers Theatre. Regionally, she has worked with American Players Theatre, Forward Theater and the Kennedy Center. She studied acting, musical theatre and playwriting at Northwestern University. TV: “Chicago Med.” For my parents, Daniel and anyone who has ever found sanctuary in a hair salon. phoebegonzalez.com

Headshot photo of
Rebecca Hirota *
Truvy Jones
Bio

Rebecca is so thrilled to be back (in all senses). Milwaukee Rep: Junk and Jane Eyre (co-pro with Cincinnati Playhouse). Selected New York: Vietgone (Manhattan Theatre Club), Romeo & Juliet (Classic Stage Company) Bullet Catchers (Judson Memorial) and The Tower (HERE Arts Center). Selected Regional: Cry It Out (City Theatre), Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Caviar on Credit (The Guthrie), The Most Deserving (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Triad Stage), Vietgone & Fault (TheatreSquared) and 36 Views (The Huntington and Quantum Theatre). Television: “Law & Order,” “Elementary,” “Unforgettable” and “Gossip Girl.” Education: MFA Acting, Columbia University; BA Psychology, Boston University.

Headshot photo of
Maeve Moynihan *
Annelle
Bio

Maeve is so grateful to be able to perform again! She has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, Minnesota Opera, Theater Latté Da, Red Eye Theater, Gremlin Theatre and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. TV: “Bluebloods.” She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program. Starting in March, catch her on the road with the first national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird. Special thanks to my DGRW team, Kate for being my Milwaukee host, my wonderful fam and my rock, Mike!

Headshot photo of
Meg Thalken *
Ouiser Boudreaux
Bio

Stage: Steep Theatre, The Den, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Route 66, Detroit Public Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Victory Gardens, Next, Northlight, Chicago Dramatists, Travel Light, Wisdom Bridge, Pheasant Run, The Playhouse. TV: “Paper Girls,” “Shameless,” “Empire,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Justice,” “Chicago Fire,” “Easy Abby,” “Detroit 187,” “ER,” “Joan Cusack Show,” “Turks,” “Chicago Hope,” “Early Edition,” “EZ Streets,” “The Untouchables,” “Chicago Story,” “Jack & Mike,” “Justice: Greylord Style,” “The Richard Speck Case,” “Through Naked Eyes.” Film: “Christmas Again,” “This Day Forward,” “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party,” “Bad Johnson,” “Hannah Free,” “Check Please,” “The Company,” “U.S. Marshals,” “Poltergeist 3,” “A Family Thing,” “The Babe,” “Class.”

Headshot photo of
Tami Workentin *
Clairee Belcher
Bio

Tami is happy to return to the Powerhouse stage where she was last seen as Jean in Good People. Other Milwaukee Rep credits include Louise in Always…Patsy Cline and Mrs. Cratchit and the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol. Additional Milwaukee credits include Luna Gale at Renaissance Theaterworks, A Secret Mask alongside her husband Jim Pickering, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, First Stage, Optimist Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare and the Marcus Center. Regional credits include Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Organic Theater, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Rochester Civic Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare in the Park Fort Worth and Taproot Theatre. Tami is also a licensed Medical Massage Therapist: stillmassage.com. This performance is dedicated to her sweet Dad, who could not carry a tune in a bucket, and is now holding up the bass section in heaven.

Creative Team

Headshot photo of Laura Braza
Laura Braza
Director
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Headshot photo of
Laura Braza
Director
Bio

Laura is a director, teaching artist and the Artistic Producer of Milwaukee Rep. At Milwaukee Rep: Grounded, Souvenir, Always...Patsy Cline, Songs for Nobodies and Two Pianos Four Hands. Regional: It Came From Outer Space (Chicago Shakespeare Theater – upcoming), The Dispute and If You Give a Pig a Pancake (Hangar Theatre) and Theophilus North (Dog Days Theatre with FSU/Asolo Rep). Select NYC: The Tutors, The Notebook of Trigorin (NYC Premiere), Strictly Dishonorable, the dreamer examines his pillow, On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning and Jericho (World Premiere) (The Attic Theatre); work at Atlantic Theater Company’s Stage II, Keen Company, New York Musical Theatre Festival, FringeNYC, Dixon Place and more. Drama League Directors Project Alumnus. BFA: NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Robert Harling
Playwright
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Collette Pollard
Scenic Designer
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Samantha C. Jones
Costume Designer
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Noele Stollmack
Lighting Designer
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Pornchanok Kanchanabanca
Sound Designer
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Jill Walmsley Zager
Dialect Coach
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Deanie Vallone
Production Dramaturg
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JC Clementz
CSA Casting Director
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Tara Kelly *
Stage Manager
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David Hartig *
Assistant Stage Manager
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Kelly DeLisle
Stage Management Resident
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Daniel Andres Blanco
Assistant Director
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×
Robert Harling
Playwright
Bio

Mr. Harling made his directorial debut with “The Evening Star” for Paramount, which he also wrote for the screen based on Larry McMurty’s novel. “The Evening Star” reunited Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson and co-stars Juliette Lewis, Bill Paxton, Scott Wolf, Miranda Richardson and Marion Ross. “The Evening Star” is the continuation of one of the most beloved and acclaimed movies of our time, “Terms of Endearment.” Before launching a successful stage and screenwriting career, Robert graduated from Tulane University School of Law, but instead of taking the bar exam, he opted to become an actor in New York. After years of productive work as an actor in voiceovers and commercials, Harling was inspired to write the highly acclaimed stage play Steel Magnolias, which was based on events from his personal life. Steel Magnolias continues to thrive in theatrical productions throughout the world. Immediately bridging a career from stage to screen, Harling adapted his original play into the popular film of the same title, which starred Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton and Daryl Hannah. Over the years, Mr. Harling has become a much soughtafter screenwriter: other credits, to name a few, include “Soapdish,” which was based on Harling’s acting experience and starred Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Downey Jr., and “The First Wives Club” for Paramount, starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton.

Collette Pollard
Scenic Designer
Bio

Collette returns to Milwaukee Rep where credits include Eclipsed, The Legend of Georgia McBride and The Chinese Lady. Recent Chicago credits include: Fannie, Roe, The Wolves and The Happiest Song Plays Last (Goodman Theatre), Lindiwe, HIR, The Fundamentals and Between Riverside and Crazy (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Miracle (Miracle Productions), Smart People (Writers Theatre) and A Shayna Maidel (TimeLine Theatre) where she is an artistic associate. Recent and upcoming regional credits include Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Hartford Stage and Alliance Theatre), My Father’s War (TheatreSquared) and The Cake (Asolo Repertory Theatre). Collette is the recipient of several Jeff Awards and is an Associate Professor of Design at the School of Theatre and Music at UIC. Many thanks to the endless support from her family.

Samantha C. Jones
Costume Designer
Bio

Samantha is excited to be making her Milwaukee Rep debut with this wonderful group of people and this classic play. Previous credits include work with Court Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Writer’s Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago Children’s Theatre, American Blues Theater, TimeLine Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Jackalope Theatre and others. Regionally, Jones has worked with Kansas City Rep, Alley Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, First Stage, Skylight Music Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Peninsula Players Theater and others. Her work can be viewed at samanthacjones.com

Noele Stollmack
Lighting Designer
Bio

Noele is delighted to be lighting a play in front of a live audience again at Milwaukee Rep. Recent prior work includes The Niceties, The Chinese Lady and Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. Noele’s lighting has appeared onstage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Library of Congress Theatre, as well as the opera companies of Santa Fe, Ontario, Houston, Portland, Vancouver, New Orleans, Nashville, Madison and Milwaukee. Regional design for the theatre includes Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Houston’s Alley Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Skylight Music Theatre, American Players Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theater and First Stage. As Lighting Director for Houston Grand Opera, she supervised the lighting and special effects for over 50 productions along with designing the lighting for such productions as Andrei Serban’s Elektra, Dr. Jonathan Miller’s Der Rosenkavelier, Aida, and the world premieres of Harvey Milk, Desert of Roses and Dracula Diary. Her AIA award-winning architectural and public space lighting is installed throughout the Midwest. Member United Scenic Artists Local 829

Pornchanok Kanchanabanca
Sound Designer
Bio

Pornchanok (Nok) is a Thai artist, sound designer and composer. Nok has worked with theater companies across the United States including Lincoln Center, Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf, McCarter Theatre Center, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Geva Theatre Center and Cincinnati Playhouse among many others. She has also collaborated with performing groups and theatre companies in Thailand since 2008. Nok graduated from the Yale School of Drama and is a member of the TSDCA, USA Local 829. www.wishnok-music.com

Jill Walmsley Zager
Dialect Coach
Bio

Jill is very happy to return to Milwaukee Rep where she has coached over 35 productions. She has also served as Resident Voice Coach at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Regionally Jill has worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Theatre Company, Drury Lane Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She earned her Master’s Degrees in Voice and Dialects from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (London) and Northwestern University. She has worked extensively as an actress on stage and in voiceovers.

Deanie Vallone
Production Dramaturg
Bio

Deanie is the Literary Director at Milwaukee Rep, overseeing the John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program. Select Milwaukee Rep dramaturgy credits include Junk, The Chinese Lady, Songs for Nobodies and Lost Girl. Previously she’s worked with Baltimore Center Stage, Asolo Repertory Theater, the Kennedy Center and Forward Theater. She is a facilitator with the National New Play Network and the VP of Institutions for the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. She received her MA from the University of Cambridge.

JC Clementz
CSA Casting Director
Bio

JC is the Casting Director at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company and a freelance stage director. He has cast productions out of Chicago and New York over the past decade including the Broadway productions of Linda Vista, The Minutes and Pass Over. Prior to Steppenwolf, he spent four seasons as casting director at Milwaukee Rep where he has directed seven productions including Forever Plaid, Murder for Two and The Nerd. He is currently serving as Associate Director on the upcoming Broadway musical The Devil Wears Prada. JC is a proud member of SDC and the Casting Society of America.

Tara Kelly *
Stage Manager
Bio

Tara is tickled pink to be returning to live theatre at Milwaukee Rep for Steel Magnolias. She was previously here for West Side Story. Selected Credits: Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical (1st National Tour); A Night with Janis Joplin (Capital Rep); 42nd Street (Engeman Theater); Smokey Joe’s Café (Arkansas Rep); Broadway Backwards 2012 & 2013; Marriott Theatre; Asolo Rep; Atlantic Theater Company; STAGES St. Louis; Maine State Music Theatre. Tara can be heard as a host on the podcast Uncharted Tara/Tori. Miss & Love you always Mom & Dad. “We’re all stories in the end… just make it a good one, eh?” – The Doctor. www.lovetarakelly.com

David Hartig *
Assistant Stage Manager
Bio

David is excited to be back at Milwaukee Rep where he most recently worked on Hedwig and the Angry Inch and 2 Pianos 4 Hands. He has also worked on several productions for American Players Theatre, ACT Theatre Seattle, Seattle Rep, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Children’s Theatre and Eugene Ballet. David currently lives minimally out of a backpack and small carry-on bag and travels the world during his downtime… or hopes to get back to that soon. Thanks for coming out to support the arts!

Kelly DeLisle
Stage Management Resident
Bio

Kelly (she/her) is a native of Indiana. Kelly graduated from Ball State University where she received her degree in Production Stage Management. Kelly has worked professionally in stage, production and company management. She has also recently entered the emerging profession of COVID safety management and has worked as a Certified COVID Safety Officer (CCO). Professional credits include Cortland Repertory Theatre (ASM/ACM), Cedar Rapids Opera (SM), Indiana Public Radio (SM) and Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (CCO). Kelly would like to thank Milwaukee Repertory Theater for the opportunity to return to the theatre after an unprecedented year. She would also like to thank her parents and Ball State family for their continuous support! Find out more about Kelly at kellydelisle.com IG: kellydelislesm

Daniel Andres Blanco
Assistant Director
Bio

Daniel is an award-winning director, actor, writer and editor, and a recent graduate of the BFA Acting Program at UCSB. Since graduation, Daniel has been focused on continuing his work in creating and presenting unique stories about the Latinx experience through both film and theater. He is very excited to be joining Milwaukee Repertory Theater for the season! Daniel has most recently co-directed On the Verge Santa Barbara’s Home Project and directed Center Stage Theater’s Malcolm and UCSB’s Trumpus Caesar. Aside from theater, Daniel has also written and directed the Salsa-Noir film “Sorpresas,” as well as the SBIFF Stay-at-Home Showcase Audience Favorite “El Cantante” and is currently wrapping up a new three-part series “De La Luna, Del Sol.” Daniel’s dream is to write and direct a jukebox Fania musical about his family, but will settle on starting a Salsa band if that doesn’t pan out.

* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

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