Director’s Note
Steel Magnolias is a play about friendship, resilience, and the bonds of women who share their lives together in a small Louisiana town. Filled with warmth and humour, the story is deeply moving, and the characters are rooted in truth.
This is an ensemble piece – the strength of the play lies in the chemistry and connection between the six women. They are not caricatures. Their Southern accents must feel authentic and lived-in, never comic or exaggerated. Each woman is strong, subtle, and layered, with moments of wit, love, vulnerability, and honesty. Above all, they are real people who love one another fiercely.
About the Play
Set entirely in a beauty salon in small-town Louisiana, Steel Magnolias offers a window into six women’s lives as they navigate weddings, babies, heartbreaks and healing. At its centre is Shelby, a beautiful young woman and her strong-willed mother M’Lynn. As Shelby makes life-changing decisions, M’Lynn finds it difficult to sit by as her daughter leaves the nest.
The play unfolds across four separate days, over three years, at the salon. It begins on young hair dressing apprentice Annelle’s first day (which also happens to be Shelby’s wedding day). This is followed by a lively Christmas gathering and then a reunion a couple of years later, marked by life-changing news, and finally, a crisp autumn morning when the air is colder, the stakes are higher and the bonds between them feel stronger than ever.
Rounding out this cast of lovable characters is Truvy, the salt-of-the-earth owner of the beauty salon, Ouiser (the town’s cranky old lady who has been in ‘a bad mood for forty years’) and Miss Clairee, the widow of the ex-Mayor.
Character Descriptions
These women are complex human beings, not caricatures. Their Southern accents should feel authentic and lived-in, never comic or exaggerated. What binds them together is honesty, love, and community. Connection between the cast will be very important to allow the audience to engage with the story.
M’Lynn Eatenton (playing age 40 – 50)
Shelby’s deeply devoted mother, M’Lynn is intelligent, strong-willed, and protective. She wrestles with wanting to shield her daughter while also respecting her independence. M’Lynn’s emotional depth culminates in one of the most powerful, heartbreaking scenes in the play.
Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (playing age 21 – 29)
The play’s vibrant heart, Shelby is beautiful and full of life. As the author says, she is ‘the prettiest girl in town.’ Her courageous decision to have a child despite serious health risks becomes the story’s emotional core. She is delicate, strong and determined to live life on her own terms.
Truvy Jones (playing age 40-55)
The owner of the beauty salon, Truvy is endlessly welcoming, loves to talk, and thrives on sharing gossip. She’s funny, flamboyant, and always has a beauty secret up her sleeve. She’s a loyal friend who genuinely cares for everyone.
Clairee Belcher (playing age 60s–70s)
Witty, sharp-tongued widow of the former mayor, Clairee is stylish, confident, and knows how to hold a room with her dry humour. Her loneliness is tempered by the fun she shares with her friends.
Ouiser Boudreaux (playing age 60-70)
Tough, eccentric, and hilariously blunt. Ouiser has a sharp tongue and little patience for nonsense. She is a fiercely loyal friend with a soft core that peeks out when you least expect it. Though she appears cranky and cantankerous, her vulnerability and loneliness make her deeply relatable. Almost every line of hers is a laugh line, so natural comic timing is essential.
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (playing age 19–29)
The newcomer to town, Annelle appears shy, awkward, and a little lost but she gradually blossoms in this circle of women. Her journey is one of transformation: from timid and uncertain to passionate and grounded.
Audition Process
- Monologue: You will be asked to perform a short monologue from the play.
- Duologue: You will also read in pairs or groups using selected short scenes to test chemistry and ensemble dynamics.
- Accent: Please prepare with a Southern (Louisiana) accent.
Audition Material
- Monologues: One monologue has been selected for each character. Please choose the role(s) you are auditioning for and prepare that piece.
- Duologues: At the audition, you may also be asked to read in pairs. Excerpts are provided so you can familiarise yourself with them in advance.
(Below are the relevant monologues and duologues)
Key Dates
- Auditions:
Monday 24th November and Wednesday 26th November 2025 between 6 & 8pm at Noosa Arts Theatre, 163 Weyba Road, Noosaville. - Casting notice:
All auditionees will be contacted Monday, 1 December regarding the outcome - Rehearsals:
Tuesday evenings (times tba) and Saturdays 10am to 4pm. It is expected rehearsals will begin early January 2026. It is also expected that scripts are down before rehearsals begin. - Performances:
17 to 29 March 2026 (Full dress rehearsal 17/3; preview 19/3; opening night 20/3; evening performances 26, 27, 28/3; matinees 21, 22, 28, 29/3)
Contact
To book your audition slot, please contact the Production Manager: Margaret Courtney
M: 0407 450 621 / E: theperegianpair@hotmail.com
Margaret will ask for your email address and then send you an audition form to fill out and return via email. Or you can download the form here and send it in.
Times will be allocated by Margaret for the solo audition slots. Ensemble auditions will take place as required, at the discretion of the director.
We can’t wait to meet you and see your work! Thank you for bringing your talent and energy to this production.
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