Filled with both sass and Southern charm, Steel Magnolias opens the 2020 Season at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, with performances now through Feb. 2.

Set in 1987, Steel Magnolias is the story of six Southern women who share recipes, beauty tips, and gossip in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser; an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a “good ole boy.”

Best known as a popular star-studded film featuring Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts, Steel Magnolias was initally a play, written by Robert Harling. After making its Off Broadway premiere in 1987, Harling went on to write the screenplay for the 1989 film.

Harling based Steel Magnolias on the life of his sister, Susan, and their experience growing up in Natchitoches, Louisiana. In a recent article in Southern Living, Harling notes most of the story was true to life. “My father shot at birds in the trees, there was an armadillo wedding cake, all of that’s true. My mother donated a kidney to my sister. It failed. All of it.”

Making their Beef & Boards debuts in Steel Magnolias are Diane Kondrat as M’Lynn Eatenton, Kay Francis as Oiser Boudreaux, Morgan Jackson as Annelle Dupuy, and Lari White as Shelby Eatenton. Deb Wims, who played Annelle in Beef & Boards’ previous production of Steel Magnolias, returns in the role of Truvy Jones. Suzanne Stark (Hairspray, Shear Madness, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast) plays Caliree Belcher.

Steel Magnolias is rated PG and is on stage for 33 performances through Feb. 2. Tickets range from $47.50 to $72.50 and include Chef Odell Ward’s buffet, fruit & salad bar, unlimited coffee, tea, and lemonade.

For tickets, visit beefandboards.com, or call the box office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. For complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indiana’s only year-round professional dinner theatre, has been serving up exceptional entertainment since 1973.

Fact Sheet

WHAT: Steel Magnolias
Written by Robert Harling

WHEN: Jan. 4 through Feb. 2, 2020

Weekday/Saturday Evenings
Doors open at 6 p.m.; Buffet from 6¬:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Show at 8 p.m.
January: 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31
February: 1

Weekday Matinees
Doors open at 11 a.m.; Buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Show at 1 p.m.
January: 8, 15, 22, 29

Sunday Evenings
Doors open at 5 p.m.; Buffet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Show at 7 p.m.
January: 5, 12, 19, 26

Saturday/Sunday Matinees
Doors open at noon; Buffet from 12:15 to 1 p.m.; Show at 1:30 p.m.
January: 5, 12, 19, 26
February: 1, 2

WHO:
Director - James Hesselman
Costume Design - Jill Kelly Howe
Lighting Design - Ryan Koharchik Sound Design - Daniel Hesselbrock
Set Design - Michael Layton Stage Manager - Jeff Stockberger

Starring:

Diane Kondrat as M’Lynn Eatenton Deb Wims as Truvy Jones
Kay Francis as Ouiser Boudreaux
Morgan Jackson as Annelle Dupuy
Susanne Stark as Clairee Belcher Lari White as Shelby Eatenton

WHERE: Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre 9301 Michigan Rd., Indianapolis, 46268

TICKETS: Available at beefandboards.com, or by calling the box office at 317.872.9664 between 10 a.m. & 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, or 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. Tickets range from $47.50 to $72.50 and include the dinner buffet, fruit & salad bar, and select beverages.

WEB SITE: For tickets, more information, or show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Annelle (Morgan Jackson), second from right, tells the ladies at Truvy's beauty shop about her desperate circumstances in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

Attempting to apologize, Clairee (Suzanne Stark), right, tells Ouiser (Kay Francis) "you know I love you more than my luggage" in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

Annelle (Morgan Jackson), left, tells her prospective new employer Truvy (Deb Wims) that her work is "poofier" than normal because she's nervous in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

M'Lynn (Diane Kondrat) shares a moment with her daughter Shelby (Lari White) in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

Shelby (Lari White), at right, tells her mother M'Lynn (Diane Kondrat) how she imagines life will be after her baby is born in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias," starring (from left) Morgan Jackson as Annelle, Lari White as Shelby, Deb Wims as Truvy, Suzanne Stark as Clairee, Diane Kondrat as M'Lynn, and Kay Francis as Ouiser. Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig

Shelby (Lari White) tells stories about her fiance to Truvy (Deb Wims) in Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias." Photo © & courtesy of Patricia Rettig