Williams Street Repertory’s Steel Magnolias opened to great audiences and rave reviews last weekend. The show continues Friday, May 3 at 8pm on stage at Raue Center For The Arts in Historic Downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois. It's perfect for Mother's Day or a ladies night out! Additional show dates are: May 4, 10 and 11 at 8:00 pm and May 11 at 3:00 pm.
Robert Harling wrote the heartfelt
play that is based on the true story of his sister’s battle with diabetes. In
its searing depiction of a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town
beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching — and, in the
end, deeply revealing of what it truly means to be a friend when the chips are
up or down.
WS Rep graciously welcomes Kimberly
Berg Sanders on board as the show’s director. Sanders began as a
dancer/performer with Judith Svalander and attended high school from Crystal
Lake Central High School. She transitioned into directing while in college and
upon graduating she became a member of the Chicago Center Theatre Ensemble for
5 years. Sanders, who went to school for education, has directed shows at both
Prairie Ridge High School and New Trier High School, and now currently teaches
English at Cary-Grove High School.
When asked to describe the show
Sanders explained that Steel Magnolias, put simply, is about “needing a strong
support group to lean into your fears.”
Bringing to life these iconic women
are Amanda Flahive (Annelle), Hannah Dawe (Shelby), Kate Hein (Truvy), Kellee
Stall (M’Lynn), Shannon Mayhall (Clairee), and Regina Belt (Ouiser).
Behind the scenes, the crew includes
Richard Kuranda (Founding Artistic Director) and T. Paul Lowry (Producing
Director) as well as Pat Henderson (Stage Manager), Rebecca Lowry (Set
Designer), Dan Gallagher (Lighting Designer), Aaron Quick (Sound Designer),
Clare Kemock (Costume Designer), Teri Jackson (Props Designer), Steven Spera
(Light Board Op) and John Dwyer (Sound Board Op).
The theatre company also presented The
Fantasticks, The Rocky Horror Show, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play,
Company, and Short Stories and Tall Tales of the American Hero this season.
Over the past year Raue Center has
attracted regional and national attention from media powerhouses like the
Huffington Post, Playbill.com and BroadwayWorld.com.
Steve Cochran of WIND Fox Radio
praised WS Rep calling its work, “Challenging, provocative and, oh yeah… Fun.”
Rick Kogan of WGN also had rave
reviews of Raue Center and WS Rep saying, “You must, must see this amazing work
at this beautiful theater. Outstanding.”
Steel Magnolias tickets start at $29. Group pricing is
available! Tickets can be purchased online at WWW.WSREP.ORG,
WWW.RAUECENTER.ORG or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or 26 N. Williams
Street in downtown Crystal Lake. This show is sponsored by Advocate Good
Shepherd Hospital, BMO Harris Bank and RFP Photography, Inc. The second week of
shows is also sponsored by Countryside Flower Shop and Garden Center. Thank you
to the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the MacArthur Fund for Arts &
Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
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