Sunset Players Announces Audition Dates for Steel Magnolias
Sunset Players will hold auditions for Steel Magnolias, a comedy by Robert Harling, on June 23 and 24 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Arts Center at Dunham, 1945 Dunham Way, Cincinnati, OH 45238.
Director Trey Reeves is seeking a cast of six women ranging in stage age from 21 to 70. The auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Sign up for an audition slot at Sign Up Genius.
Performances for Steel Magnolias will be September 18-26. Rehearsals will begin July 26.
For more information, contact Dennis Murphy at durfsworld@yahoo.com.
Note: Southern accents from Natchitoches, Louisiana are desirable for all characters.
Available Roles:
Truvy Jones (Lead role; 40s): Owner of the small-town beauty shop in fictional Chinquapin Parish, Louisiana. A frustrated romantic who loves her work, is a bit of gossip but never vindictive, she offers advice with lots of hairspray, teasing, and country sayings. Truvy is a real Southern Belle. The ability to perform dialogue in a believable southern accent is important.
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (Lead role; 20s): Truvy’s newly hired beauty shop assistant. A loveable and sweet girl who is very shy, private, and creative. She goes from a very soft-spoken person to a bible-loving Christian who wears her heart on her sleeve.
Clairee Belcher (Lead Role; 60s): Widow of the former mayor and a Grande Dame. Elegant, sophisticated, stylish and intelligent, but still adjusting to being a widow. She is sarcastic and loves to laugh and poke fun at the little things that others cry over. She has a smart mouth and deprecating sense of humor. She is also very close to Ouiser, so the ability to play someone of wealth who is not too good for the various personalities in this story is a must. To be able to reflect a proper demeanor in contrast to her dear friend’s abrupt nature (Ouiser) is essential to this role.
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (Lead Role; 20s): M ’Lynn’s daughter and the prettiest girl in town. Shelby is free-spirited and tends to speak her mind, which often brings her into conflict with her mother. Her physical condition is fragile due to childhood diabetes. Like her mother, family and motherhood become pivotal and fundamental for this character. She goes through life-changing events throughout the play. The ability to respectfully represent disability, pregnancy issues, life and death decisions, and to embody the transition from hope to the realities of mortality are a must for this role.
M’Lynn Eatenton (Lead Role; 50s): Shelby’s mother; a socially prominent career woman. She is practical, smart, articulate, concerned and kind. M ’Lynn is passionate and stubborn and overprotective about her headstrong daughter. While she discourages Shelby risking her life for a child, she does not hesitate to put her own life on the line for her daughter. The actress playing this role must be able to portray the breaking heart of a mother losing her daughter in the climax of the play.
Ouiser (pronounced “Weezer”) Boudreaux (Lead Role; 60s): She is a wealthy curmudgeon (although one could never tell by her wardrobe) and southern to the core. Ouiser is eccentric and quick witted, acerbic but lovable. She possesses a sharp tongue that masks an ultimately good, kind, and caring woman. The ability to reflect abruptness in contrast to her dear friend’s (Clairee) proper demeanor will be fundamental in this role. Ouiser adds comedy to lighten several tense scenes.
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