Marsha Mason and Frances Sternhagen to join the cast of 'Steel Magnolias'.

With the annoucement that Marsha Mason and Frances Sternhagen will star in Steel Magnolias, casting is now complete for this show

Marsha Mason will star as Ouiser (the sharp tongued and wealthy curmudgeon) and Frances Sternhagen will star as Clairee (the former first lady of Chinquapin Parish), 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.

Marsha Mason and Frances Sternhagen join the previously announced Delta Burke who will play Truvy (the owner of the beauty shop), Christine Ebersole who will play MLynn (Shelbys mother), Rebecca Gayheart who will play Shelby (the bride-to-be) and Lily Rabe who will play Annelle (the young beautician).

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

Biographies:

Marsha Mason has previously appeared on Broadway in 'Happy Birthday', 'Wanda June', 'The Good Doctor' and 'The Night of the Iguana'. Her off-Broadway credits include 'Richard III', 'Old Times', 'The Big Love', 'Lake No Bottom', 'Love Letters', 'The Vagina Monologues' and last season's 'Wintertime'.

Frances Sternhagen is currently appearing in the Off-Broadway hit The Foreigner (Roundabout). Sternhagen's Broadway appearances include 'Equus', 'On Golden Pond', 'Grownups', 'The Sign in Sydney Brustein's Window', 'Angel', 'You Can't Take It With You', 'Home Front'. Off-Broadway credits include Mary Tyrone in 'Long Day's Journey Into Night', Miss Daisy in 'Driving Miss Daisy', Theresa in 'Remembrance' and Margaret in 'A Perfect Ganesh'.