Lily Rabe to join the cast of 'Steel Magnolias'.

Lily Rabe, will star as Annelle, the young beautician who joins Truvys salon, in the upcoming Broadway premiere of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias. which opens 4 Apr 2005, at the Lyceum Theatre, following previews from 15 Mar.

Lily Rabe, who has appeared in 'Mona Lisa Smile' and the indie films 'Never Again' and 'Freshmen', will be making her New York stage debut in Steel Magnolias.

She joins the previously announced Delta Burke who will play Truvy (the owner of the beauty shop) and Christine Ebersole who will play MLynn (Shelbys mother).

Casting for the remaining three funny, strong Southern women who inhabit Truvys beauty parlor will be announced soon.

Steel Magnolias will be drected by Jason Moore and is being produced on Broadway by Roy Gabay and Robyn Goodman.

Steel Magnolias is set in a small town beauty parlor in Louisiana and follows the lives of several women who often meet there. The story pays particular attention to M'Lynn and her daughter Shelby