There are very few modern stories that represent Louisiana and its culture so well, but the well-known and beloved “Steel Magnolias” is one of them.
Ascension Community Theatre has recently opened their sold-out production of “Steel Magnolias” full of laughter, hair care and heart. First published by Robert Harling in 1987, then adapted into film in 1989, the play follows a group of six women in North Louisiana as they love and support one another through all the things life throws at them.
Taylor Alberes plays Shelby, M’Lynn’s daughter, who is set to be married. Alberes has had a long history with Theatre and ACT, performing during school, but “Steel Magnolias” is her return to the stage after ten years.
When talking about returning to acting with this show, Alberes said it was very healing. She credited the fact that the cast and crew of the show is made up of all women.
“To be able to come back after ten years to be part of a story about women from Louisiana and then working with a group of all women has been really refreshing,” Alberes said.
For Alberes, connecting with and getting to know her castmates was easy for her, as she feels herself and her castmates essentially played alternate versions of themselves.
In “Steel Magnolias,” Shelby is often the through-line for the story. Alberes said she has connected to her character greatly. She said she relates to Shelby in many ways, especially due to her own recent wedding.
The culture and lives of these women are reflective of the real lives of Louisiana women, especially the cast of this show. The tradition of baking for friends or family during big life events and the need to take care of one another are topics heavily touched on in the play, according to Alberes.
“I think that it really speaks to our culture in Louisiana and in the South,” Alberes said.
According to Alberes, the rehearsal process for “Steel Magnolias” took place over the course of only a month. Despite this short amount of time to prepare, she is excited for opening night due to the bonds between the women in the show.
“I’ve never met these people, and in the play, we are all best friends and have known each other our entire lives,” said Alberes. “So, you really have to develop that chemistry. We’re very lucky that we kind of immediately had that bond.”
Alberes mentioned that “Steel Magnolias” was Ascension’s first show, so putting it on has been a big moment for much of the cast and crew. She hopes that while watching the play, the audience can feel the love and kindness within the story that she strives to put into the world each day.
The show is also a big deal for Valerie Comeaux, the show’s director. She said she has loved the show for many reasons over the years, but she especially loves shows that are about strong women. Comeaux wanted to do Harling’s story justice, particularly because she is aware that “Steel Magnolias” means a lot to so many people here in Louisiana.
“These are women we know,” Comeaux said. “They do things that we’re used to when they talk about bringing food over to somebody when they’re having major surgery. They don’t know what else to do but feed them.”
Comeaux hopes that the audience sees themselves and their neighbors in the show. Though it is a sad and emotional story, she said, it depicts events that happen every day all around us.
“Life goes on, people die, the rest of the world keeps moving,” Comeaux said. “I just hope they see that when you have that group around you, that’s all that really matters. That they’re the ones who are gonna carry you through it.”
Tickets to “Steel Magnolias” are selling quickly, so be sure to purchase soon.
