By Leigh Anne Butler

“Steel Magnolias,” a beloved story that captures the heart, humor and resilience of Southern women, is coming to life on stage this weekend at the Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center. Three performances are slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The production features six local female actors.

“These ladies have put in a lot of hard work,” director Michaela Bird stated. “We’ve been working on this show for about three months now and they’ve been incredible. I’m excited for them to be able to showcase all the hard work they’ve been doing.”

The cast comprises the following local talent: Rhonda Vincent (Truvy Jones), Lori Butler (M’Lynn Eatenton), Brittney Norell Smith (Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie), Sena Thibodeaux Bird (Ouiser Boudreaux), Karen Russo (Clairee Belcher) and Jenna Morgan (Annelle Dupuy-Desoto).

“With this being Mount Vernon’s second live production that has been a Mount Vernon focused production, using people in this community,” Bird elaborated, “is just really, really exciting and important for members of the community to come see their neighbors, their coworkers on stage in a different avenue that might not have been possible before we started doing live theatre at Mount Vernon.”

“Steel Magnolias” was written by Robert Hartling as a tribute to his sister who died in 1985. The play made its debut Off-Broadway in 1987, and a popular film adaptation was released in 1989. Set entirely inside a lively Southern beaty salon, the play follows a group of six women who create a new family through their friendships. The story captures the heart, humor and resilience of Southern women through life’s ups and downs.

Performances will be Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 each and VIP tickets are $15 each. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at: https://mvpac.simpletix.com.