VGCC Students present “Steel Magnolias”
Vance-Granville Community College drama students will stage the comedy, “Steel Magnolias” by playwright Robert Harling, between April 15 and April 18. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 15 through Saturday, April 17, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18. All performances are in the small auditorium in Building 2 on the college’s main campus in Henderson.
According to VGCC Theatre Arts/Speech instructor Betsy Henderson, “Steel Magnolias” is “a delightful Southern comedy, focusing on the strength of women and friendship.” The play debuted in 1987 and became well-known through its 1989 film adaptation starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. The action begins in a small-town beauty shop in Louisiana on the wedding day of one of its favorite patrons. Shelby, who is young, pretty and diabetic, enjoys sharing her excitement with the other women who meet regularly to chat and gossip about men, marriage, and the latest hairstyles. Filled with hilarious repartee and acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy in the second act as complications from pregnancy put Shelby’s life at risk.
The all-female cast of “Steel Magnolias” includes VGCC students Kristy Hope of Henderson (as Truvy), Amber Gupton of Henderson (Annelle), Katie Nelson of Creedmoor (Clairee), Amy Hann of Oxford (M’lynn), Cassandra Nida of Wilson (Shelby) and Lauren Elliott of Oxford (Ouiser).
The student production crew includes Patrick Nethercutt, Nicholas Henderson and Chris Todd, all of Oxford; Thomas Peoples, Kristen West and Brynn Kelsey, all of Henderson. Instructor Betsy Henderson directs the play.
Admission is $10 for the general public, and $5 for students and VGCC faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased at the door, but attendees are encouraged to secure their seats by making reservations. For more information and to reserve seats, call Betsy Henderson at (252) 738-3371.
Above: VGCC students — including, clockwise from left, Lauren Elliott of Oxford, Amber Gupton of Henderson, Katie Nelson of Creedmoor, Amy Hann of Oxford, Cassandra Nida of Wilson and Kristy Hope of Henderson — rehearse for the play “Steel Magnolias,” set in a Louisiana beauty salon. (VGCC photo)
