Hi Sarah,
GREAT CHOICE!!!
I've directed the show several times professionally, at the community level, and in schools. I've done it with working plumbing and without (having the M'Lynn exit off-stage with Annelle and yelling lines from the wings can be VERY funny).
At various times, I tried to add an ensemble of neighbors, delivery people, etc., in order to include more students. So far, it hasn't worked; too distracting and breaks up the rhythm of the show. I've always wound up cutting those roles and do the script as written.
Some other recommendations:
- Whenever someone is in a chair and getting their hair done, the other characters need some business to do. When not outlined in the stage directions, some other examples you can add are: making coffee, jotting down notes from the magazines, looking over the manicurist table, etc.
- Annelle, like the other 5 women, is essential to the story. Therefore, don't assume that because she does very little talking in the first act (until her short monologue about her marriage), that she doesn't matter. If possible, put a very strong actor in that role. Her quiet, focused listening can be as big an acting challenge as a multi-page monologue.
- These women are classy, not trashy. Sure they may tease and use harsh language from time to time, but there is an elegant dignity that we see Annelle adopt by the end of the show.
- Finally, in a couple of productions I had actual, fresh-baked pecan tassies served in that scene. The aroma wafted through the entire theatre as the ladies ate them and it helped hook the audience in.
Break a leg!!!
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Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
Fine Arts Head
Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
Tunnel Hill, GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2021 14:39
From: Sarah Wahlen
Subject: Steel Magnolias
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE!!! This is all super helpful. I am at an all girls high school and have some really talented girls this year, so I think it would be a nice fit. Another question...Is the possibility there at all to add any ensemble of any type? Or is it just strictly a six woman show?
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Sarah Aanderud Wahlen
Director of Theatre & Film
Holy Names Academy
Seattle, WA
Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2021 10:58
From: Kacy Bishop
Subject: Steel Magnolias
Hi! I did it last year in the spring and LOVED every minute of it. It's a TON of lines for most of the girls in the cast, but is such a great opportunity for character development with the kids. My cast was all seniors except for my Shelby, who was a sophomore. My one warning is that if some of your girls don't have good chemistry with each other on a personal level, it's REALLY hard to convey the "sisterhood" between the characters. My set was very simple and I was super fortunate that my high school has a cosmotology dept, so we borrowed the stylist chairs and bonnet dryers. We used a cheap (but really good looking!) hair extension for Shelby's haircut on stage (that was some gasps from the audience!!) and had two stylists come in a few times to work with my Truvy and Annelle to actually be able to style the girls hair on stage. If you have a diverse cast, bring in someone who can teach how to work with the specific hair-- my audience noticed and we actually got a nice note to admin about that particular aspect. In terms of casting, I had a black M'Lynn and a caucasian Shelby--it worked super well and created a very cool micro-family within my thespians. We did a show on Mother's Day-- it was GREAT!!!!
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Kacy Bishop
Director of Dramatic Arts
North Paulding High School
Original Message:
Sent: 07-24-2021 11:04
From: Sarah Wahlen
Subject: Steel Magnolias
Who has done Steel Magnolias? Pros, Cons, Challenges, Advice, Etc....GO! :)
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Sarah Aanderud Wahlen
Director of Theatre & Film
Holy Names Academy
Seattle, WA
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