Asbury Memorial Theatre has announced the cast for their 2017 spring production of “Steel Magnolias,” which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 3, 4, 10, and 11, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 and 12 at the church, 1008 E Henry St., Savannah.

Asbury Memorial Theatre is a thriving community theater. Since 1994, Savannah audiences have delighted in the Theatre’s plays, musicals, revues and light opera productions, which have earned several Best of Savannah awards.

The show, which is being directed by Carmel Garvin Hearn, is set in a small town in Louisiana where 6 women gather to have their hair done and share a bit of gossip at Truvy’s Beauty Salon. The New York Daily News acclaimed “Steel Magnolias” as a “superb, funny, deeply moving play.” The characters are true steel magnolias: southern belles who are flowery on the outside, but tough as steel inside. The play is alternately amusing and touching with sharp dialogue as well as interesting and challenging roles. 

Amie Schulz is thrilled to portray the role of Shelby Eatenton Latcherie. She graduated from Armstrong State University with a bachelor’s degree in theatre performance. She has performed in many regional theaters, most recently finishing a musical theater contract with Dollywood Entertainment. Some of her favorite roles include Frenchy in “Grease,” Marianna in “Sherlock’s Secret Life,” Drowsy from “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing,” and Gollum from “The Hobbit.”

Ginger Miles is pleased to join Asbury Theatre as Ouiser Boudreaux in “Steel Magnolias,” having performed with theater groups at Georgia Southern University, in Columbia, SC, and Savannah. She played Lady Catherine de Bourgh as her most recent role in The Collective Face’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Miles learned how the mind of a woman with longevity works while playing the lead role in “The Madwoman of Chaillot” at GSU.

Frannie Williams, who will take on the role of Truvy, is a graduate performing arts student at Savannah College of Art and Design, where she is working to obtain her master’s in fine arts. She recently appeared in the production, “Extremities,” as Marjorie. She was an original member of the performance improv troupe, Mom’s Adhesive, based in Charlotte, NC, where she appeared as Lucy in the production “Sweet Jenn.” Williams earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in media studies and has worked in media productions for companies such as Subway and IBM.

Ellen McGraw, who will play Clairee Belcher, loves to travel and spend time with her family. She has lived in Savannah for most of her life and has played a variety of roles from being a part of an ensemble in “My Wonderful Coma,” supporting character in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” to a lead role in “FBI Girl.” McGraw has also acted in short films and “The Journey” with Compassion Christian Church. She enjoyed a career in television and radio as she was previously an on-air personality on Z102, talent on numerous TV commercials and worked in the sales department with WSAV and FOX before retiring. McGraw feels blessed to have been given this opportunity to work with the cast and crew of “Steel Magnolias.”

Cheri Hester is anticipating her return to the Asbury Theatre stage as M’Lynn Eatenton. Some of her favorite roles include Anita in “West Side Story,” Arlene in “Baby,” Mame in “Mame,” Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” Peter in “Peter Pan,” Sally in “Cabaret,” Merideth in “Batboy,” and Agnes in “I Do, I Do.” Along with acting she also is a private acting coach and dance instructor at Gretchen Greene School of Dance, and a distributor of Young Living Essential Oils.

Toye Hickman’s first performance was as Truvy Jones in “Steel Magnolias” with Coastal Stage Productions and she is excited once again to perform in this production, this time playing Annelle Dupuy-Desoto. Toye proudly served in the Marine Corps for nearly 26 years and plans to retire this summer. She is new to theater and is eager to work with the “Steel Magnolias” cast and crew.

Pat Prokop will serve as the show’s radio DJ – a role that utilizes Prokop’s vocal talents, although he never makes a stage appearance. Prokop is an active member at Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church and is vice chair of the theatre board. He is a retired broadcast meteorologist, having served 35 years at WTOC TV. Prokop has performed in several AMTC productions, mainly as an ensemble member, and also was cast as Simon Stimson in “Our Town” in 2013. He has been involved with the church’s God on Broadway productions since 2005. Prokop and his wife, Mary, have been married since 1974, and they both love living in Savannah.

Carmel Garvin Hearn has appeared in community theatre productions in Savannah and Atlanta, most recently in Savannah Community Theatre’s 2016 production of “Johnny Mercer and Me” at the Lucas Theatre and in that company's 2014 production of “The Savannah Disputation.” She has also written a school tour show, “Who Wants to Be the Most Important Georgian?” which was produced in Athens and Savannah, and a Christmas drama, “Treasures of the Heart,” which she directed in the Atlanta area. Carmel earned a BA in English, concentration speech and drama, from Armstrong State University and her career has taken her from being a news and weather anchor at WSAV to serving as the City of Savannah’s original Cable Access Coordinator, then to Atlanta, where she wrote for the Emmy-nominated Jim Fowler’s “Life in the Wild” television series, and where she continues to work in marketing.

Alex Hearn Swanger, stage manager, has managed numerous productions in high school and college, most notably “How to Eat Like a Child” at Etowah High School in 2006, which won a regional competition and placed third at a state competition. She went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre degree, with a focus in management, from Armstrong State University. She also appeared as Mother in Armstrong’s “Crazy for You” and in “A Christmas Carol” in the Atlanta area. She is a member of the congregation and choir at Asbury Memorial UMC and is a proud employee of Blessed Sacrament School. Alex is thrilled to have this opportunity to work alongside her mother, Carmel.

Rachel Veazey, assistant stage manager, has appeared in theatre productions in Charlotte, NC and most recently as Antonia in Weddington High School’s “Man of La Mancha.” Other favorite roles have included Maud in “The Music Man” and Jennie Mae in “The Diviners.” Rachel has also worked tech in numerous shows, holding roles including props mistress, hair and costumes, and assistant stage manager. She earned a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and works as a prenatal genetic counselor.

“I could not be more excited for the opportunity to direct this remarkable play with such a talented cast and crew,” Hearn said. “’Steel Magnolias’ is sure to resonate with Savannah audiences, thanks to its Southern charm and memorable characters. We’re all looking forward to bringing this classic to life.”

Tickets for this production cost $15 each ($10 each for groups of 10 or more) and can be ordered by calling 912-233-3595 or visiting Asbury Memorial Theatre’s website.