USM Theatre department is presenting their final play production of the year, Steel Magnolias.  The University of Saint Mary’s Theatre department holds four productions every school year. This year the department has hosted The Addams Family, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,and James and the Giant Peach. Now for the final production of this school year, the play based on the classic movie, Steel Magnolias. The Theatre department has been working on this play production for almost four weeks now. In four more weeks, open house for the Steel Magnoliaswill be Thursday, April 11, 2019, at 7:00 P.M. in Xavier Theatre. The other three showtimes are Friday, April 12, 2019, at 7:00 P.M. and Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 2:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M in Xavier Theatre.

Steel Magnoliasis a melodrama and is also the first time that USM’s Theatre department is putting on the production of this play. Planning for this play began during the end of the production of James and the Giant Peach.Auditions for the roles started February 19th and 20th. What makes this play stand out from previous plays that the school has performed is it can be considered “more of an intimate production,” said Carissa Rowell the House Manager of the play. There are only six people who are acting in this play. Five of the cast members are females, and the sixth cast member is a male.

Unlike USM’s Theatre department’s play, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was performed for an audience of all ages, this play is not for young children and is more suited for teenagers and adults. “It is a perfect opportunity to see a play about the true essence of women,” Danielle Swatzell the head of the theatre department replied after being asked why people should be interested in coming to see the play.

Danielle Swatzell is the head of the Theatre Department and is also a graduate from the University of Saint Mary. One of the reasons why she wanted to put on the production of Steel Magnolias is is because Danielle is from the place where the movie was filmed and was fortunate to meet some of the cast members. Another reason is that it is a classic. The play will help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie, Steel Magnolias.

Steel Magnolias tickets can be pre-ordered at: https://www.stmary.edu/TheatreSchedule

Justine Brown is a student at the University of Saint Mary