"Steel Magnolias" to open Feb. 6 at Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth
Clear Space Theatre welcomes the cast of “Steel Magnolias” to the stage for a three-weekend run Feb. 6-22. Robert Harling’s original 1987 play was later made into the classic 1989 film of the same name.
The original play was based on experiences at the death of his sister Susan. The action focuses on the relationship of six women over a span of two years as they gather at Truvy’s beauty salon in the fictional town of Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana.
The Clear Space production features Stephanie Allman as Clairee, Katharine Ariyan as Shelby, AEA actress Jann Ellis as Ouiser, Valorie Jarrell as M’Lynn, Cat Timko as Annelle, and Amy Warick as Truvy.
Valorie Jarrell and her daughter Katharine Ariyan also portray mother and daughter in the play. When Jarrell and her daughter first moved from the Philadelphia area, where the arts are abundant, she was looking for an outlet for her daughter in the arts and found a callout in the community to start a professional theater company in southern Delaware. She attended this meeting and was on the ground floor of Clear Space’s inception.
Ariyan, now 21, joins the cast from Towson University, where she will be graduating this fall. She’s gone through Clear Space’s original Broadway Bound, Broadway Bound ON TOUR, and Theatre Arts Academy (at Cape Henlopen High School) programs. As a true Clear Space success story, Ariyan easily fits into the professional theatre company alongside her mother.
The production is directed by Clear Space Artistic Director David Button. As Button begins his new role as artistic director, he knows “Steel Magnolias” will be a quality night at the theatre filled with love, laughter, and a few tears. “This is a show about relationships. It’s about how the relationships we form in life transcend biology and how we create our own families.”
“Steel Magnolias” opens Friday, Feb. 6, with a special opening-night reception at 6 p.m. and a talkback with the actor and production staff following. The production continues through Sunday, Feb. 22 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. with an extra weekday matinee at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12.
Call Melody in the CSTC box office at 302-227-2270, or purchase tickets online at www.ClearSpaceTheatre.org.
