Preview: Steel Magnolias at Music Theatre of Connecticut

NORWALK, CT – Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's professional award-winning theatre company, continues its 33rd Season with Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling. Steel Magnolias tells the story of a tight-knit group of southern ladies in a small- town beauty parlor where touching moments, hilarious repartee, and the sudden realization of mortality are all abound. Steel Magnolias will run November 8th-24th with performances on Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

Steel Magnolias is set in wise-cracking, Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager, new assistant, Annelle -currently experiencing problems in her marriage-, the two ladies dispense shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon such as, Ouiser, an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth, and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby -the prettiest girl in town- is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Strength and love make this play and its characters truly touching, funny, and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Steel Magnolias features Raissa Katona Bennett (B’way- Phantom, Nat’l Tour- Cats, Parade) as Truvy, Kirsti Carnahan (B’way- Kiss of the Spider Woman, Baby, The Three Muskateers) as Ouiser, Cynthia Hannah (TV- The Guiding Light, All My Children, Billy Joel’s Keeping the Faith) as Clairee, Andrea Lynn Green (TV- Elementary, Crashing, The Carrie Diaries) as Shelby, Kaia Monroe (Yale Rep- Cowboy Bob, Blessing, Elm Shakespeare Company- Comedy of Errors) as M’Lynn, and Rachel Rival (Film- Young American Heroes, Goodspeed- Devotion, York Theatre- First We Dream) as Annelle.

This production is directed by Pamela Hill with stage manager Jim Schilling. The creative team includes scenic design by Jessie Lizotte, lighting design by RJ Romeo, sound design by Will Atkin, costume design by Diane Vanderkroef, and props design by Merrie Deitch.

Ticket prices range from $35-$65. Purchase tickets online by visiting www.musictheatreofct.com or by calling the box office at (203)454-3883.

MTC MainStage is located at 509 Westport Ave. in Norwalk, CT.