SM Theatre Guild Stages Steel Magnolias:

Small town Southern eccentricity will take the stage in Santa Monica Friday, March 10, at the Morgan Wixon Theater when the Santa Monica Theatre Guild premieres its production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias Set in a small town beauty salon, the play features the town’s leading women who engage in a seemingly endless conversation while having their hair done. The dialogue is sharp, funny and often rude, but these are strong women with serious problems who rely heavily on each other. Sherry Coon, who previously directed The Last Night of Ballyhoo for the Guild, is directing.Steel Magnolias had a long run on Broadway and was subsequently made into a movie with Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. It returned to Broadway in 2005 with Delta Burke, Marsha Mason and Christine Ebersold. After its opening on Friday, Steel Magnolias will continue through Saturday, April 8, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, with group discounts available and may be purchased by calling the theatre box office at (310) 828-7519.