This Performance, like all others this year and for years to come, is dedicated to
Johnny Seven Goodwyn
May 26, 2001– August 22, 2024
Seven Goodwyn was the best of us in so many ways. He was a beautiful person and performer. May he rest in peace.
FACULTY
BILL GABELHAUSEN | FULL PROFESSOR
Bill Gabelhausen, from Peoria, Illinois, is a full Professor at Piedmont University. He received a BFA in Drama from Illinois Wesleyan University, an MFA in Acting from Pennsylvania State University, and a Master’s in Education from UGA. He spent 11 years working as a professional actor performing in National Tours (A Chorus Line, 1776, The Elephant Man, & Taming of the Shrew) and Regional Theaters throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States.
JOHN F. SPIEGEL | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
John Spiegel is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Piedmont University. He is a Georgia native who grew up in Atlanta. After graduating high school from the Westminster School, he received his BA from Davidson College and his MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. John has directed over fifty shows, including a piece at the Kennedy Center. He also serves as a board member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and was recently inducted into the SETC Hall of Fame.
KATHY BLANDIN | DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Kathy Blandin is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at Piedmont University where she works closely with the Drama Ed majors. She holds a PhD in Theatre Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MFA in Children’s Theatre/Creative Drama from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, Kathy was the Executive Director of the Sautee Nacoochee Center and the head of the Cliff Valley School in Atlanta. Kathy also consults with several professional Children’s Theatres and arts non-profits nationwide helping with everything from marketing to educational programming.
WHAT’S INSIDE
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
On behalf of the cast and crew of Steel Magnolias, thank you for your support and attendance. We talk a lot in theatre about the three elements required for a theatrical event: a doer, a space, and a witness. Without you, this would just be an offbook dress rehearsal with some pretty fun technical elements. We are humbled that you are spending your time with us and are part of our performance. We hope that you will enjoy watching the show as much as we have enjoyed creating it.
This show was one of the original shows which I directed when I arrived at Piedmont over fifteen years ago. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of performers over that time. Looking back to the first cast and their strong characters, I am pleased to say that the current cast is just as strong as the cast from all of those years ago. I have enjoyed the process of discovery with these amazing performers and look forward to seeing how their careers progress. Their love of the craft and art of theatre should inspire all of us.
John F. Spiegel, Director
Steel Magnolias
Artistic Team
Director John F. Spiegel
Set Design
Clayton Maddox
Costume Design Tyler Pellegrino
Light Design
Sound Design
Joshua Farmer
Aubrie Burell
THIS SHOW RUNS APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES INCLUDING A 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION
• No photography or videotaping of any kind is permitted during the show.
• Please refrain from the use of all electronic devices.
• Women’s restrooms are located outside of the house right lobby doors and to the right.
• Men’s restrooms are located outside the house left lobby doors and to the left.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Shelby Eatenton
M’Lynn Eatenton
Truvy Jones
Clairee Belcher
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto
Ouiser Boudreaux
Nealy Webster
Mackenzie Cain
Dakota Rose Chen
Shelby Armentrout
Sara Bjerke
Haylie Collins
PRODUCTION TEAM
Technical Director
John F. Spiegel
Stage Manager
Gabriel Richman
Assistant Stage Managers
Jazz Mote
Kattie Smith
Patron Services Office Manager
Ava Kerpics
Patron Services Office Team
Tyler Pellegrino
Hunter Reum
Shelby Mowbray
Mandy Baker
Laurana Layton
Gabriel Richman
Gracie Tipton
Props Master
Laurana Layton
Light Board Operator
Meredith Fell
Master Electrician
Eleanor Quinlan
Sound Board Operator
Jay Hernandez
Backstage Crew
Parker Skillen
Mandy Baker
Set Crew
Shelby Armentrout
Mandy Baker
Sara Bjerke
Aubrie Burrell
Mackenzie Cain
Willow Cannon
Dakota Rose Chen
Haylie Collins
Joshua Farmer
Meredith Fell
Jay Hernandez
Steven Herring
Ava Kerpics
Laurana Layton
Jazz Mote
Liz Neely
Eleanor Quinlan
Gabriel Richman
Tommie Sirmans
Parker Skillen
Ethan Spinks
Megan Zimmerman
Jenna Meinberg
Avel Archer
PLAYERS
Alpha Psi Omega is the National Greek Theater Honor Society. Membership into Alpha Beta Gamma, Piedmont's cast of Alpha Psi Omega, is based on the number of cumulative hours each individual has spent in various college theater productions.
Shelby Armentrout is a first-year musical theatre major from Camden County, GA. In high school, Shelby played Janice Ian in Mean Girls, and Charlotte Bet in Oliver! She is so excited to be here and hopes you enjoy the show!
Sara Bjerke is a first-year musical theatre major from Rock Rapids, IA. In the past, she has been seen performing in Newsies, Bye Bye, Birdie, and State Fair. She Hopes you enjoy the show!
Mackenzie Cain is a non-traditional acting/directing major from Cleveland, GA. She has been seen onstage as Mark Cohen’s Mom in RENT and as Officer Welch in Rumors. She also serves as the Booster Club Secretary for the White County Theatre Department. She is grateful for the opportunity to preform for you and hopes you enjoy the show!
Dakota Rose Chen is a third-year musical theatre major from Athens, Ga. You may have seen her in previous roles such as Mimi in RENT and LeeAnn in A Piece of My Heart She has also had the pleasure of costume designing You are Not Your Face, for Outfront Theatre. She is excited to further her degree at Piedmont and she hopes you enjoy the show.
Haylie Collins is a senior acting/directing major from Grayson, GA. You may have seen her in previous roles such as Maureen in Rent and Sissy in A Piece of My Heart. She wishes to thank you for supporting Piedmont University’s Theatre Department and hopes you enjoy the show!
Nealy Webster is a first-year transfer student at Piedmont University. You may have seen her perform at White County High School as Sophie in Mamma Mia, Luisa in the Fantasticks, and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She would like to thank her family for their constant support, and hopes you enjoy the show!
FRIENDS OF THE ARTS
SUPPORTERS AS OF DECEMBER 19, 2024
Platinum ($5,000+)
Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms
Louise Bass
Pres. Marshall & Kimberly Criser
Bill and Carolyn Gaik
Gold ($1,000+)
Gainesville Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Lewis and Dianne Cody
Rev. Dr. Phil DeMore
David and Leslie Foster & WCON 99.3 FM
Bob Glass
Habersham County Chamber of Commerce
Phil and Betty Healy
Chris and Kathryn Kelly
Parks and Cathy Miller
Dr. Larry and Dinah Peevy & Tallulah Falls School
Larry and Kendra Rasche
Mary Raymer
Terry and Laura Rogers
Southern Company
John and Karen Spiegel
Weidner Law Firm
Thomas J. Wigley
Robert M. and Coleen D. Williams
Silver ($500+)
Dr. Walter and Jeanie Daves
Bill Gabelhausen
Drs. Shannon and Jennifer Gilstrap
Ms. Patricia Louko and Dr. Herb Johnson
Richard and Billie Monroe
Thomas and Margaret Rasmussen
Ann Sutton
Alex Thomlinson
Bronze ($250+)
Temme Barkin-Leeds & Stephen Leeds
Alicia Barton
Kathy and Todd Blandin
Brenda Boonstra
The Honorable James E. Cornwell
Pam and Joey Fountain
Zack and Hailey Hoopaugh
Bobby and Tammy Ivey
Dr. Katrina Short
Patron ($100+)
Edward and Ann Banke
Jeff and April Bowers
Rebecca Brantley
Joseph Campion
Dr. Martha and Jonathan Cantrell
Gary and Stephanie Cortellino
Dr. Jacqueline Ellett
Drs. Monica and Bill Harn
Headwaters Master Gardeners Assoc.
Dr. Edwin and Nancy Hendricks
Deborah Hill
Nolan Howren
Kelli Ivey
Dr. Steve Jacobs
Cheryl Lower
Dr. Robert Lutz
Santanu Majumdar
Richard Meissner
Ted Meredith
Drema Montgomery
Jane Pellegrino
Crystal Potthoff
Martha Richardson
Marissa Rodriguez
Curtin Shirley
John Templeton and John Siegel
Dean Slusser
Sandy Smith
Dr. Stephen and Jo Whited
Sean Williamson