Theatre SilCo staging of Robert Harling’s classic is a superbly directed production with an all-star cast.

It is a deeply cruel act for Theatre SilCo to stage Steel Magnolias in a thrust configuration. Not because the production is bad. On the contrary, it’s exquisitely acted, thoughtfully directed by Missy Moore and beautifully realized in every technical detail.

The cruelty lies in this: at some point, you will cry, and because of the intimacy of the space, you will do so in full view of everyone around you, who are also crying. There is no hiding from the emotional impact of this show — nor, frankly, would you want to.

Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias has become a staple of American theater since it debuted off-Broadway in 1987 and was immortalized in the 1989 film starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton. Despite its iconic status, I’d never crossed paths with it until now. Though it was written nearly 40 years ago, remarkably, the play doesn’t feel dated; in fact, its themes of chosen family, caretaking and the invisible labor of women remain piercingly relevant in 2025.

From left: Leslie O’Carroll, Rachel Miller, Christy Oberndorf, Emma Messenger and Anne Terze Schwarz in ‘Steel Magnolias.’ | Photo: Graco Hernandez

Truvy’s Salon

The story, inspired by Harling’s late sister Susan, who died from complications related to type 1 diabetes, is set entirely in Truvy’s beauty salon in the small town of Chinquapin, Louisiana. Over the course of four scenes spanning three years, we watch six women form a tight-knit circle of friendship and support. As they share gossip, dreams and frustrations, their relationships deepen when tragedy strikes the youngest among them, Shelby.

Moore finds exactly the right tone — comic with its heart on its sleeve — and skillfully needles the line between laugh-out-loud moments and emotional gut punches. The pacing is never slow; each beat moves with purpose and emotional momentum.

Her staging makes the most of Michael Grittner’s warm, lived-in scenic design, which convincingly captures the cozy, well-worn energy of a Southern salon. With just two entry doors and a few styling stations, the set could easily feel static, but Moore keeps the action lively throughout. The stage is alive with business: hairdryers hum, towels are folded, candy is unwrapped and magazines are flipped. Every bit of blocking and gesture feels purposeful, keeping the eye engaged while letting the dialogue and characters shine.

Christy Oberndorf and Leslie O’Carroll have a moment in ‘Steel Magnolias.’ | Photo: Graco Hernandez

A-Listers

And shine they do. This six-woman ensemble is a who’s-who of Colorado stage talent. Anne Terze-Schwarz, recently seen in the title role of Waitress at the Arvada Center, plays Truvy with a grounded warmth. Truvy isn’t the flashiest character, but Terze-Schwarz imbues her with gentle strength and a disarming curiosity that makes her the perfect salon matriarch — the kind of woman you’d trust with your hair and your secrets.

Rachel Miller delivers a compelling performance as Annelle, the nervous new stylist with a complicated past and an evolving faith. Miller charts her character’s transformation with care, showing how Annelle’s spiritual awakening reshapes her demeanor without turning her into a caricature. It’s the most surprising arc of the play, and Miller handles it with heart and humor.

As Clairee, the stylish widow and former first lady of the town, Emma Messenger is, as always, a force. She commands the stage with biting wit and delicious comedic timing, often stealing scenes with a perfectly deadpanned quip. Her chemistry with Leslie O’Carroll’s Ouiser, who is grumpy and opinionated but secretly kindhearted, is electric. The two veteran performers play off each other like old rivals who have outgrown their feud but still enjoy sparring.

Christy Oberndorf plays Shelby, the vibrant young woman at the center of the play’s emotional core. Oberndorf, recently seen in the national tour of Hairspray, brings vulnerability to the role. Shelby’s optimism, especially in the face of a high-risk pregnancy, is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

Christy Oberndorf as Shelby in ‘Steel Magnolias.’ | Photo: Graco Hernandez

Moving scenes

Oberndorf is especially moving in scenes with Maggie Tisdale as her mother, M’Lynn, which creates a believable Southern family dynamic. Tisdale, in the play’s final act, delivers a monologue so devastating and so raw that it holds the entire theater in a collective breath. It’s a raw, painfully honest depiction of grief that is messy, furious and deeply human.

This is a cast with no weak links, and even more impressively, no weak accents. Despite being produced by a Colorado company, the Southern dialects are consistently strong and tastefully restrained. There’s no listed dialect coach, which makes the ensemble’s consistency even more impressive, particularly to this reviewer, who grew up in East Texas and despises overbaked drawls.

Technically, the production is polished across the board. Noel Nichols’ sound design integrates soft ambient noises and well-chosen country songs that would have been right at home on a radio in 1980s Louisiana. Cloe Lobdell’s prop design fills the space with period-appropriate detail that subtly reinforces the world’s authenticity. Nita Mendoza’s lighting design is primarily naturalistic, but it changes subtly between scenes and to highlight tonal shifts.

Steel Magnolias may be a familiar title, but in Theatre SilCo’s hands, it feels freshly potent. What begins as a comedy gradually blossoms into something far more profound: a meditation on resilience, community and the quiet heroism of everyday women. Moore’s staging doesn’t simply tug at the heartstrings — it plucks a full symphony from them.

It’s a rare thing to sit in a room full of strangers and weep together, and rarer still to welcome it. But Theatre SilCo’s Steel Magnolias earns that moment, and then some. Moore’s production is as funny as it is wrenching and as precise as it is heartfelt. This is theatre that reaches out to you, takes your hand and reminds you how brave it is simply to care.

So, bring tissues. Not just for yourself, but for your neighbor, too. You’re going to need them.

Maggie Tisdale is M’Lynn in ‘Steel Magnolias.’ In the background, Anne Terze-Schwarz and Christy Oberndorf. | Photo: Graco Hernandez