The stage play, written by Robert Harling and first performed in 1987, is a dramedy about a group of Southern women dealing with illness and changes in their lives. It was adapted into a 1989 film starring Julia Roberts and Sally Field, and has continued to be a popular repertory play, attracting a number of high-profile actresses over the years. The Lighthouse rendition, held in conjunction with Baytown Little Theater, will run across four days, including two matinee performances, and is held in honour of Cynthia Ramos Garcia, a community member who is fighting kidney cancer.
This performance will be directed by Sam Estrada-Gorashko, a co-founder of the company, and star local actresses Danielle Meza, Robin McDougal, and Rotaxlyn Hudson. Local theatrical productions often rely on local talent for everything from lead performances to graphic design for marketing. This will be the first play from Lighthouse Productions as a permanent entity. The group emerged from a production of the Ossie Davis play Purlie Victorious meant to celebrate Juneteenth this past summer. Its mission statement is:
“…to promote the fine arts, and to produce and present dramatic productions, Concerts, Art exhibitions and Dance performances as an artistic, entertaining, cultural, nonprofit, community project.”
The Galveston Lighthouse Productions staging of Steel Magnolias will run from November 7 to 10 at the Baytown Little Theater stage.