Plymouth Community Theatre Presents Steel Magnolias

Anne Gardiner directors Steel Magnolias, a comedy-drama about the bond among a group of women from a parish in the Natchitoches, Louisiana, area. In Chinquapin, Louisiana, anybody who is anybody gets their hair done at Truvy’s Beauty Salon, and there is always something going on. Truvy dispenses beauty tips (there is no such thing as natural beauty) to her customers and her assistant, Annelle (who may or may not be married to a dangerous criminal). The late mayor’s wife, Clairee, dishes all the town gossip, especially about the current mayor’s wife (they hate her) while her best friend Ouiser never sees the bright side of anything (she’s been in a bad mood for forty years). Diabetic Shelby struggles to have a normal life (and reminds everyone that pink is her signature color) while her mother, M’Lynn, just tries to keep everything together (even if her hair does look like a football helmet). The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Anne's most recently directed Betrayal by Harold Pinter for Nemasket River Productions in Middleborough. Anne has acted professionally for the American Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Boston Children’s Theatre, Boston Theatreworks, Boston Theatre Marathon, Perishable Theater and for countless commercial and industrial films, tv and videos.

In her eighth show with PCT, Kasey Bishoff plays Shelby. A singer and actor for over 20 years, she is a recent member of the PCT Board of Directors and 2008 Plymouth Idol winner. Kasey's most memorable appearances include Ethel Merman in Red Hot & Cole, Blanche in Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Martha in the musical version of The Secret Garden.

Clairee will be played by Theresa Chiasson, whose previous PCT credits include lmost, Maine (director) and Present Laughter. Other favorite roles include Ethel in On Golden Pond, Bev in Graceland, and Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace. When not on stage, Theresa is the nurse at Abington High School and the theatre advisor at Pembroke High School.

In her first production with Plymouth Community Theatre, Paulie Devlin plays Annelle. Paulie has performed in many shows at .

Laura Howerton, playing Turvey, has been involved in theatre for over 25 years. She holds a theatre degree from Skidmore College and was most recently seen in the Bay Players' production of The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Jess Wilson has over 20 years of professional and community theater experience as an actor, tech, designer, producer, playwright and director. She was most recently seen as Kate in Sylvia with the Bay Players of Duxbury. Other memorable roles include Lenny in Crimes of the Heart, The Narrator in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Rose in Dancing at Lughnasa, the US Attorney General in the world premiere of Liberating Women, and Megan Singer in the world premiere of E. A. Kafkalas's Lopsided. She serves on the Board of Directors for several theater groups and music festivals and is the co-founder of the Watermelon Alligator Theatre Company. In addition to her full-time career in healthcare and her theater work, Jess is a radio personality/disc jockey, artist and musician. Jess will play M'Lynn.

Judy Yancey’s first show with PCT was Money, Power, Murder, Lust, Revenge...! in 2008. She has since performed in Some Enchanted Evening; Red, Hot, and Cole; and The Christmas House; and served as stage manager for PCT’s production of Bedroom Farce. Judy has also been seen in the Bay Players' productions of The Sisters Rosenzweig and Our Town, and has also worked with the Pinehills Players and with North River Theatre, where she just finished performing in The Last Romance. Judy is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew. Judy plays Ouiser.

Rob Hakala is the host of "The South Shore's Morning News" on 95.9 WATD-FM since November 2010. This is Rob's first project with Plymouth Community Theatre and is thrilled to have been requested for a voice role. Radio has been a passion of Rob's since age 12. Despite being voted most quiet in High School, he attended and graduated with a degree in communications from Curry College in Milton. Rob plays the KPPD DJ. 

Showtimes:
Friday March 2 at 8pm
Saturday March 3 at 8pm
Sunday March 4 at 3pm*
*There will be a talkback with cast and director following this performance.

Friday March 9 at 8pm
Saturday March 10 at 8pm
Sunday March 11 at 5pm***
***Please note change in matinee time!

Tickets are $20 for Friday and Saturday evening performances, and $18 for Sunday afternoon performances. Tickets are available at the Front Desk, and at

All shows at Plymouth Center For The Arts
11 North Street, Plymouth, MA