Beginning Thursday, Sept. 21, Theatreworks Colorado Springs kicks off another season of theatre in the Pikes Peak Region with a favorite story of friendship, resilience, and community: “Steel Magnolias.”
You may know it from its two film adaptations, but this beloved story began its life as a play, and now it’s coming to vibrant life on the Theatreworks stage. This “Steel Magnolias” invites you into the intimate world of a Black beauty shop in small-town Louisiana and the lives of the women who keep both the shop and the county running.
With iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and all the Southern charm you can fit on one stage, “Steel
Magnolias” brings heart, warmth, tears and side-splitting laughter to the Dusty Loo this fall. This production celebrates the power of community and friendship in life’s best and worst moments. In the words of Truvy Jones, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”
Theatreworks’ production features a cast entirely comprised of Colorado-based actors, including local
favorites Cheerish Martin (Twelfth Night, Little Women), and Marisa Hébert (Every Brilliant Thing) and
Desiree Myers (The Bluest Eye).
They’re joined by Denver based actors Carla Brown, Latifah Johnson, and Mary Louise Lee (new to Theatreworks). The production is helmed by Colorado Springs multihyphenate theatre artist Lynne Hastings (Little Women’s Marmee, director of Lady Day).
“It’s really about friendship, supporting one another, and loving each other through the good times and the bad,” said Hastings. “It’s about the joy that brings people together and bonds people. It happens in beauty shops, barbershops, bowling alleys, golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts. Folks gather in these places with found family and choose to be together. So, I think “Steel Magnolias” is for everyone. I think everyone’s going to find something joyful in this play.”
The creative team includes Nia Safarr Banks (costumes), Seth Alison (lighting), Joseph Lamar (sound
design), Krista Montoya (scenic/props design), Jocelen Smith (wig and makeup designer) Garth Moritz
(stage manager), and Skylar Campbell (assistant stage manager).
Tickets to “Steel Magnolias” can be purchased online at entarts.org/steelmagnolias or by phone at 719-
255-8181. Performances begin Thursday, Sept. 21 and continue through Sunday, Oct. 15.
UCCS students are always free. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday,
with matiness at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Associated Events
Join us before Thursday performances at 6:45 p.m. for Director, Designer and Scholar Chats about the
show. Stay after Saturday matinees for a guided Community Conversation and stay after the second and third Sunday performances for talkbacks with the actors.
About Theatreworks Colorado Springs
Theatreworks Colorado Springs connects, empowers, and delights our communities through diverse performances and educational experiences that are mirrors for ourselves and windows into others. We create in service to our audiences, our staff and artists, the UCCS students and community, and the people of Southern Colorado to envision a better world.
Founded in 1975 by artistic director Murray Ross, costume designer Betty Ross, and an ensemble of passionate artists, today the program is led by artistic director, Caitlin Lowans, who was appointed in 2018 – the same year the Ent Center of the Arts opened its doors to the community. Caitlin brings a passion for education and for community-engaged work, celebrating the diversity of human experience. Learn more at entcenterforthearts.org/theatreworks.
About the Ent Center for the Arts
This first-class arts facility, located on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus serves the community as a hub for the arts and an inspiration in academics. The vision for the facility was and is to foster a creative environment to house arts that will serve the Pikes Peak region, allowing artists to inspire and amplify one another rather than compete against one another. Art brings together diverse peoples and ideas in ways no other discipline can, and the Ent Center will be a pillar of the arts community within Colorado Springs. Learn more at entcenterforthearts.org.