For Immediate Release: August 25, 2006
Media Contact: Ray Smith, Plays & Players Theater, 610.622.3254

To open their 2006 - 2007 season, The Torchbearers of Plays & Players Theater are proud to present Robert Harling’s delightful comedy of enduring feminine friendships, “Steel Magnolias”. Set in Truvy’s Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where “anybody who is anybody” comes to have their hair done, “Steel Magnolias” offers a rich gallery of eccentric, small-town southern women, each of them touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. At its 1987 premiere at the WPA Theatre in New York, The New York Times raved, “Harling is a new voice in the theatre. He has given his women sharp, funny dialogue...The play builds to a conclusion that is deeply moving.” In 1989, Harling scripted the hit movie which starred Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.

Plays & Players’ production will be directed by Bill Egan and stars an excellent cast of Philadelphia and New Jersey actors: Donna Earl (Truvy), Chrissie Gruebel (Annelle), Linda Gryn (Ouiser), Suzanne Landgren (M’Lynn), L. Moore (Clairee) and Stacey Wylie (Shelby).

"Steel Magnolias” opens Friday, September 15th at 8pm with additional shows on Saturday, September 16th at 8pm, Sunday, September 17th at 2pm, Friday, September 22nd at 8pm, closing on Saturday, September 23rd at 8pm. Tickets are $20 purchased online at www.playsandplayers.org or $25 if purchased at the door. Plays & Players box office is open 30 minutes before show time. Reservations can be made by calling 215-735-0630, but will be subject to the door price. Groups of 10 or more receive a special discount on the ticket price by calling (215) 735-0630 or by e-mailing Linda Gryn at linda@playsandplayers.org.

Plays & Players Theater is located at 1714 Delancey Place, between Spruce & Pine Streets, in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, PA.

About Plays and Players
Plays and Players is the only non-profit community theater in Center City, Philadelphia, and is one of the oldest continuously operating community theaters in America. Having remained open since its first production, Plays & Players has produced theater through world wars and the Depression. Historically, Plays & Players is a gemstone. It was the home of the First Korean Congress in 1919. Housed in the theater are original murals painted by Edith Emerson as well as historical tiles, which decorate the lobby.

Plays & Players is dedicated to enhancing the community’s interest in the arts, providing a free forum for community members to actively participate in theater, and to maintain and oversee the operations of the historically registered playhouse. Visit www.playsandplayers.org, call (215) 735-0630 or e-mail Linda Gryn at linda@playsandplayers.org for information about upcoming productions, auditions, social programs and rental opportunities.

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