Half of Chinquapin Parish would give their eye teeth to play opposite their real-life daughter in the iconic mother-daughter duo roles (originally made famous by Sally Field and Julia Roberts in the 1989 original film) of M’Lynn and Shelby Eatenton in Steel Magnolias. Tidewater Players is giving that exact opportunity to Jessica Brockmeyer and daughter McKenzie Brockmeyer, who are playing opposite one another as M’Lynn and Shelby in the company’s upcoming production of Steel Magnolias, directed by Bobby Mahoney. We had a chance to sit down with the pair of them before rehearsal and get an inside look at what it’s like working together as a mother-daughter team in this pair of iconic mother-daughter roles.

Thank you both for sitting down with me, I’m really excited to meet you officially, Jess, and to meet you for the first time, McKenzie. You’re mother daughter, so how did we come to the idea that Steel Magnolias was the show that you wanted to come out and do together?

McKenzie Brockmeyer: She decided.

Jessica Brockmeyer: Yeah.

McKenzie: When mom heard from Bobby that they were going to do the show and she wanted to audition, she said to me, “well, I hope you’re free.” So I checked the dates and it landed perfectly when I’m available from work but it is kind of a drive…I live in Delaware. But then I figured, “okay…” I mean we’ve never been on stage together.

Jess: We’ve been in shows together.

McKenzie: Yeah but we’ve never been on the stage at the same time, we haven’t played characters that interact with one another.

Jess: I think the only time we were ever on stage together was during “One Day More” in Les Mis (summer 2015; MST.)

McKenzie: But we were far, far away from each other. I think we were on opposite sides of the stage. We’ve never interacted on stage before.

That’s really fascinating. Now I’m getting the impression, McKenzie, that you’re no stranger to the stage, you just perhaps operate a little further afield from Havre de Grace and the surrounding area?

McKenzie: Yeah. I live in Wilmington now. I started doing theatre here. Tidewater is actually where I did my first show. It was with the Tidewater Jr. camp. I moved to Delaware in 2018. So coming down here to do a show isn’t as easy. But this show was a special circumstance.

Very cool. What was your working familiarity with Steel Magnolias before coming into the project?

Jess: Of course I’m a movie fan. I pretty much have the movie memorized but then Street Lamp did it, I cannot remember the year. I want to say 2018? Maybe 2017? (Street Lamp Community Theatre, Sept 2018) but it was definitely Street Lamp because Bobby (Director of the Tidewater Players’ production, Bobby Mahoney) directed it. Barb Snyder was in it as Ouiser, Lithia Knopp was in it as Truvy and Valerie Dodson, who is playing Annelle in this show, played our Clairee in that show. Lots of nice wigs and makeup for her then.

And you played M’Lynn for Bobby seven years ago when you guys did it at Street Lamp?

Jess: Yep.

So this is your second go-round with this character. And McKenzie, you’ve never done the show?

McKenzie: Right. I’ve never been in Steel Magnolias but I watched the movie because of her all the time.

Oh that sounds like me with my mother. I feel like I was stuck watching it all the time because she always had it on! She’d flip through channels and if it was playing— that was the movie that was on for the rest of the day or until it was over.

McKenzie: I mean I feel like I probably felt like I was ‘stuck watching it’ the first time but now I watch it and I love it and can quote it line for line.

I too can quote it line for line though I’m not sure I’m as in-love with it as you are. But other than having a great opportunity to finally share the stage with each other, playing characters who directly interact with one another, what was the draw?

Jess: I really do love this show. It’s just about strong women. I come from strong women, I feel like I’ve raised a strong woman. And it’s about friendship but it comes down to the mother-daughter relationship, which is also a friendship and this is something I wanted to experience with her. I got to play with McKenzie a little bit in high school because I taught her as well. We’ve ‘played on stage’ but to do this for real, to do something this emotional is exciting.

This has to be a uniquely wrecking experience for you, Jess.

Jess: Yeah. Rehearsals…ooh. We’ve only done that scene like twice and I’m breaking down every time, which makes me a little nervous.

And what about you? Other than the chance to do a show with your mom, what was the draw?

McKenzie: I haven’t done a show in about a year, so it kind of just landed at the right time. I love Steel Magnolias for all the same reasons— strong women.

I see you’re even wearing pink.

McKenzie: I LOVE pink.

Jess: She relates to the character.

McKenzie: Yeah, I do. I love the show and Shelby is just fun.

I love to hear that you can relate to Shelby, how are you guys similar? How are you guys different? Hopefully none of your organs are failing.

McKenzie: No! Organs are good! Healthy organs and I love that. But I definitely love pink. I love kids, I was a teacher for ten years. I have a great friendship with my mom. Most of my friends are slightly older women, so this show fits right into my friend group. I love working with these women, it’s really awesome.

That’s so great! What about you, Jess? How are you and M’Lynn similar and or different?

Jess: I am much more different. I have a great relationship with my daughter. I have a couple of tight friends but that’s about where it ends. I’m not as high-strung, tight-lipped, and anal-retentive as M’Lynn. That’s not me.

I know you guys have only just gotten started with rehearsals but is there a moment in the show that really defines what this experience means to you personally?

Jess: It’s the whole “30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special” moment for me. Even if this isn’t great— though I think it is going to be awesome— just to have this experience with my daughter— that’s it for me.

Oh wow, you’re priming the audience for the waterworks weeks before you guys even open!

Jess: You know, surprisingly that scene where Shelby says that line— I had not found emotions in before— I’m finding them now and I think that’s because I have to look my actual daughter in the face.

McKenzie: It’s really hard to have to look your parent in the eye as you’re saying these lines.

Jess: Because you and I don’t talk to each other that way.

McKenzie: We don’t. Because we don’t argue.

Jess: So the scene where we really do argue, as M’Lynn and Shelby, that’s tough.

McKenzie: I feel like I’m fighting with my mom and then I have that ‘oh no!’ feeling and then I cry. It’s really hard.

Is that your biggest challenge? Because you do have such a great functional relationship in real life, finding a way to bring these two, who tend to buck-heads more readily to that place of not-so-perfect relationship?

McKenzie: Yeah I think so. At least for me I think that’s the hardest part. It’s the attitude that Shelby has. I don’t think that’s in my nature.

Jess: To stand up to me like that?

McKenzie: No, just to be like sassy.

Jess: I think you’re real sassy.

McKenzie: Okay, well, nevermind then.

Oh my goodness! This is delightful I cannot wait to see this play out on stage. What is it like, knowing that a lot of people who are coming out to see this production will know the 1989 original film version very well, with that mental expectation that you’re going to be Julia Roberts and you’re going to be Sally Field and how are you managing that or is it giving the nerves? Are you ignoring it? How are you handling it?

McKenzie: It kind of gives me the nerves just because the friends that I have where I live aren’t big theatre people so they do only know of Steel Magnolias as the movie. And every time I’ve said, “I’m in a show, I’d love for you to come see it, I play Shelby.” And they’re all “Ooh, Julia Roberts!” and it’s very challenging because I keep trying to explain that it’s different and that I’m not Julia Roberts. But I always tell everyone that my mom is Meryl Streep and she can do anything. So when they say “Oh, she’s Sally Field” I just say “Yeah, that too.”

And you, Jess?

Jess: You know, it’s also fun that these are women who I haven’t worked with in a little bit and Sarah (playing Truvy, Sarah Sickels) in particular had never seen any of it. But she’s bringing something so cool to Truvy and so different. Even me, knowing the show the way I do, I’m really in awe of these new things she’s doing.

McKenzie: I’m cracking up! It’s so cool and funny.

Jess: I love that she’s finding new ways to look at scenes that are all her own and not anybody else’s Truvy.

I really do love hearing that. I feel like a lot of times when you have shows, whose character bases are grounded in those big Hollywood icons, like Dolly Parton or Sally Field, the option is to try and emulate what’s already been done by those people. It’s really great to see that people are taking the chance to break out of that.

Jess: There are a few lines that aren’t in the movie that I think is where you can really dig-in with the characters. M’Lynn has this whole thing— well, it’s actually only two lines— but she’s talking about how her and Drumm are trying to rekindle things. And I don’t think that’s conveyed in the movie whatsoever. It gives a whole new meaning to the relationship that Jackson and Shelby have in her eyes and it’s really interesting. There’s even a moment when she realizes, ‘oh, Shelby’s not as head over heels with Jackson’ as she appears in the movie. It gives you some deeper things to hook onto.

I love that insight. Do you have a— I always hate using the word favorite— but a line or a moment in the show that just makes your heart sing when you hear it? Even if it isn’t one that you deliver.

Jess: It’s the one that I share with Sarah, it’s the one that she says to me at the end after I’ve lost Shelby. And we’ve had the big funny scene. “If you ever need to, come and take a whack at me, I can take it.” I don’t know why that is the one that kills me. Because that is what my friends would say to me. It’s so sincere and heartfelt; it just wholly represents the relationship of all six women.

McKenzie: Mine is right before I leave for the last time and I have to look at everyone in the eye, and it’s so difficult, I can’t look at anyone. I’m going to be staring at everyone’s forehead. And I say, “I love you all so much.” And I can just feel the tears. I can’t look at anyone! It’s so emotional! You don’t say that to your friends a lot until you do and when you do, you really mean it.

Do you have a favorite shade of pink, McKenzie?

McKenzie: Yes. It’s a pale, dusty pink. Like a vintage pink. I love pink. But not a hot pink. It’s a vintage kind of pink; it’s on my Pyrex dishes. No. Hot. Pink. 

Alrighty then. Are you as big of a pink fan, Jess?

Jess: I like all the colors. I’m wearing a bright purple scarf with my lime green coat right now. Anything with glitter and sequins and anything that’s loud.

McKenzie: And kind of tacky. In a good way.

Jess: Oh 100%. Loud and kind of tacky!

If you could write your ticket to be anyone in this show, other than the two characters you are currently playing, who would you want to play?

McKenzie: I want to be Ouiser one day. I love her. She is so silly. I’m obsessed with her. I love the way Barb does her. And I just think that character is so, so funny. And there are small and kind of quiet lines that just slip in and I think it’s just so funny. I’d love to play her.

Jess: Hands down, same thing. I feel like I’m just ten years away from Ouiser.

And in ten years, Bobby may have found another company and put it on again.

Jess: Sure, but I meant actually becoming Ouiser myself. I’m about ten years away from that!

I love it. Why do you want people to come out and see Steel Magnolias here at Tidewater Players?

McKenzie: Besides my bias that it’s me and my mom? The rest of the women are really talented and they are bringing new things to each character that I think are really fun and cool and I think it’s sometimes nice for people to have what they know and what they think is correct tested a little bit so I want people to come see that.

Jess: I think people should come out because it’s theatre. And it’s a straight play. And nobody does straight plays.

100% with you on that one, Jess.

Jess: Take yourself out of the stagnant movie and come see us do something different with it.

Absolutely. What are you hoping that those audiences who are going to take that advice and come out to see this show, what are you hoping they will walk away thinking, feeling, experiencing once they do?

McKenzie: I hope they bring their friends and when they leave have that realization of “yeah, you guys are my best friends.” Or it will make them take the time to call their friends because seeing the friendship these women share makes them feel good about their friendships.

Jess: Exactly that.

What has being a part of Steel Magnolias taught you about yourself?

McKenzie: For me, I need to be a little bit more vulnerable. I don’t normally share my big feelings a lot the way that I have to in this show. Be a little bit more open.

Jess: That I’m stronger than I think I am.

Anything else you gals want to say?

McKenzie: It’s great. Just come be here with us. I love every show I see here. I’m loving this show that I’m doing here.

Jess: This is home.

If you had to sum up your experience thus far with Steel Magnolias at Tidewater Players using only one word, which word would you use?

McKenzie: Magic.

Jess: Lucky. 

Steel Magnolias plays February 21^st 2025 through March 2^nd 2025 with Tidewater Players in residence at the Cultural Center at The Havre de Grace Opera House— 121 N. Union Street in historic downtown Havre de Grace, MD. For tickets call the box office at 667-225-8433 or purchase them online.