Broadway's Amy Spanger, Charlotte D’Amboise Nancy Opel, and Kathy Fitzgerald To Lead STEEL MAGNOLIAS In New Jersey
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Time for some hot gossip! Broadway’s Charlotte D’Amboise, Amy Spanger, Nancy Opel, and Kathy Fitzgerald will lead Robert Harling’s play Steel Magnolias at Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ from July 25 to Aug. 10. It will be directed by Nate Patten.
Patten is best known as a Broadway music director and writer. He has worked with Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Jackie Hoffman, Christian Borle, Jeremy Jordan, and Kristin Chenoweth, in addition to directing and co-writing Brooke Shields’ solo show.
“When I was thirteen years old, I saw a summer camp production of Steel Magnolias and instantly fell in love with its timeless humor, impeccable writing, and unforgettable characters,” Patten said. “I am thrilled to direct this hilarious and heartfelt play, brought to life by an extraordinary cast of Broadway legends. Steel Magnolias remains an enduring classic, and I am honored to share it with audiences through the talents of such terrific actresses in these iconic roles.”
The play is set in 1980s Louisiana, where Truvy Jones owns a salon of cheerful gossip. The band of regulars at the salon include a mother-daughter duo planning a wedding, a woman who’s “been in a bad mood for 40 years,” and a mysterious newcomer. The women face trials and triumphs, forging a powerful bond.
Salon owner Jones will be played by Spanger, whose Broadway credits include Cats, Kiss Me Kate, the Wedding Singer, and more. d'Amboise — who has been seen on Broadway in A Chorus Line, Cats, Chicago, Company, and more — plays M’Lynn Eatenton. Opel, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Urinetown, will play Clairee Belcher, the mayor’s widow. Fitzgerald, whose credits include The Producers, Wicked, 9 to 5, and more, will play the curmudgeonly Ouiser Boudreaux. Newcomers Eve O’Brien and Sarah Suzuki will round out the cast as Shelby and Annelle, respectively.
Steel Magnolias originally opened Off-Broadway in 1987 and was given a film adaptation in 1989 starring Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, and Shirley MacLaine. It was then adapted for TV featuring a Black cast including Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, and Phylicia Rashad. It made its Broadway debut in 2005.
Steel Magnolias runs at the Bell Theater on 101 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, NJ, from July 25 to Aug. 10. For tickets and more information, visit here.
