ACTC Theatre Presents "Steel Magnolias" Sept. 30-Oct. 2

The ACTC Theatre production of Steel Magnolias features (standing from left) Lisa Wallin as Ouiser, Tiffany Jobe as Truvy, Manda Neal as Shelby, Shelby Tyler as Annelle, (seated from left) Holly Edwards as MLynn andSusan Durisoe as Clairee.

Ashland Community and Technical College Theatre opens the 2016-17 season with Steel Magnolias, a comedy-drama about a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor.

Performances are Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2:30 p.m. in the J. B. Sowards Theatre at the College Drive Campus. Tickets at the door before each performance are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, students and children.

In the play by Robert Harling, the six main characters share their feelings and opinions about the town and each other in a series of vignettes that are often comic and sometimes tragic. The cast includes students and adults from the area.

Tiffany S. Jobe, an ACTC student from Ashland, portrays Truvy Jones, the wise-cracking salon owner.

Susan J. Durisoe, a retired administrative assistant from Grayson, is Clairee Belcher, the eccentric millionaire.

Shelby L. Tyler, a Fairview High School Junior and Ashland resident, is Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, the new salon assistant.

Holly J. Edwards, a freelance graphic designer from Catlettsburg, portraysMLynn Eatonton, the local social leader.

Manda D. Neal, a Marshall University graduate and Empire Books bookseller from Huntington, is Shelby Eatonton-Latcherie, Mlynns daughter.

Lisa C. Wallin, a reading teacher at Ashland Middle School, portrays Ouiser Boudreaux, the town curmudgeon.

Director Jim Maggard is Theatre Instructor at Fairview High School. He is the founder and director of the Company of Dreams Theatre in Ashland.

For more information, contact ACTC Theatre coordinators Sarah Diamond Burroway, Director of Grants and Contracts, 606.326.2106, email: sarah.diamondburroway@kctcs.edu or Assistant Professor Jonathan Joy, 606.326.2201, email: jonathan.joy@kctcs.edu.

Other 2016-17 productions are A Christmas Carol in December and the New Play Festival in April.