The Piedmont University Theatre Department will conclude its 2024-25 Mainstage Season with a production of Steel Magnolias, running April 10-13 at the Swanson Center Mainstage Theater in Demorest.
Set in a small-town Louisiana beauty salon, Steel Magnolias follows six Southern women as they navigate life’s joys and challenges with humor, heart and unwavering support for one another.
The play centers around Truvy’s salon, where town matriarchs gather to swap stories, share gossip, and lean on each other through life’s trials. At the heart of the story is Shelby Eatenton, a spirited young bride whose battle with diabetes impacts everyone around her. Through laughter and tears, the women prove the power of friendship in the face of adversity.
Director John Spiegel emphasizes the play’s emotional depth and the strength of female friendships. “While some of the events in the play are tragic, the most important moments are the ones where the women lift each other up,” Spiegel said. “Being there for each other through thick and thin is their strength. We would all be lucky to have such strong women in our lives.”
The cast features:
- Nealy Webster as Shelby Eatenton
- Mackenzie Cain as M’Lynn Eatenton
- Dakota Rose Chen as Truvy Jones
- Shelby Armentrout as Clairee Belcher
- Sara Bjerke as Annelle Dupuy-DeSoto
- Haylie Collins as Ouiser Boudreaux
Senior Gabriel Richman serves as stage manager for the production.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on April 10-12, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on April 13. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Piedmont University faculty, staff, and students may attend for free. Tickets can be purchased online at piedmont.edu/tickets or by calling the box office at 706-778-8500 ext. 1355.
