'Steel Magnolias' full cast announced

Steel Magnolias, by Robert Harling and directed by Jason Moore, will open 4 Apr 2005 at the Lyceum Theatre, following previews from 15 Mar

The Broadway premiere of Steel Magnolias stars Delta Burke as Truvy, Christine Ebersole as MLynn, Rebecca Gayheart as Shelby, Marsha Mason as Ouiser, Lily Rabe as Annelle and Frances Sternhagen as Clairee.

An Off-Broadway hit in 1987, Steel Magnolias played 1,126 performances at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, following its premiere at the WPA Theatre. Steel Magnolias has since been performed in hundreds of productions around the world. The popular film version premiered in 1989.

Steel Magnolias follows the lives of six indomitable Southern women as they share their personal triumphs, tragedies, beauty tips, recipes, and more then the occasional piece of scandalous gossip in Truvys beauty shop in Chinquapin, Louisiana.

Set design is by Anna Louizos, costume design is by David Murin, lighting design is by Howell Binkley and hair design is by Bobby Grayson.

Steel Magnolias will be produced on Broadway by Roy Gabay, Robyn Goodman, Ruth Hendel, Sharon Karmazin, Ergo Entertainment and Elsa Daspin Suisman/Martha R. Gasparian.

ABOUT THE CAST:

Delta Burke (Truvy), made her Broadway debut last year in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'.

Christine Ebersole (MLynn). Broadway credits include '42nd Street', 'The Best Man', 'Getting Away with Murder', 'Harrigan 'n Hart', 'Camelot', 'Oklahoma!', 'On the Twentieth Century', 'I Love My Wife', 'Angel Street' and 'A Connecticut Yankee', 'Ziegfeld Follies of 1936', 'Lady in the Dark' and 'Allegro'.

Rebecca Gayheart (Shelby), this production will mark Gayheart's Broadway debut. Gayheart has many film and television credits including 'Jawbreaker', 'Shadow Hours', 'Dead Like Me', and 'Beverly Hills 90210'.

Marsha Mason (Ouiser) has previously appeared on Broadway in 'Happy Birthday', 'Wanda June', 'The Good Doctor' and 'The Night of the Iguana'.

Frances Sternhagen (Clairee). Recent credits include 'The Foreigner' (Roundabout), 'Echoes of the War' (Mint Theater) and Alan Bennett's 'Talking Heads' Broadway appearances include 'Morning's at Seven', 'Equus', 'On Golden Pond', 'Grownups', 'The Sign in Sydney Brustein's Window', 'Angel', 'You Can't Take It With You', 'Home Front'.

Lily Rabe (Annelle), this production will mark Rabe's Broadway debut. She has been seen on screen in 'Never Again' and 'Mona Lisa Smile'.

Jason Moore (Director) as previously directed on Broadway 'Avenue Q' and Off-Broadway 'Avenue Q' and 'The Crumple Zone'.