Wouldn’t you rather have 30 minutes of wonderful rather than a lifetime of nothing special? Well, this interview took about 50 minutes (and for a Al Herlinger cast that’s short!) but it was certainly wonderful and special. Sitting down with the six talented women of Just Off Broadway’s upcoming production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias, we’ve done a deep-dive into what it’s like for these six women— mostly strangers to one another, some new to the show, some seasoned veterans— to work together in this evocative and beautifully moving story of friendship.

Thank you all so much for giving us some of your time. I love when I get to sit down with actors and talk shop, as it were, though goodness gracious me, whenever it’s an Al Herlinger cast, I feel like I’m in for a surprise! Why don’t we start off with who you are and who you’re playing and whether or not you’ve done a Just Off Broadway show before?

ReginaGina G: I’m ReginaGina G, I’m playing Shelby and this is my first time with Just Off Broadway productions.

Samantha Vannoorbeeck: I’m Samantha Vannoorbeeck, I’m playing Annelle and this is my first production with Just Off Broadway as well.

Hillary Mazer: Hi there. I’m Hillary Mazer and I’m playing Ouiser, and this is also my first time with Just Off Broadway.

Do I seriously have a group of six “Just-Off-Broadway-Virgins” that’s really exciting?

Gail Shapira: I’m Gail Shapira, I’m playing Clairee, but this is not my first time working with Just Off Broadway.

Dangit, I spoke too soon.

Gail: I ruined it. I’m sorry. I have done Bonnie & Clyde, And Then There Were None…and one other one.

Oh my goodness, bless your heart for being a part of that production of And Then There Were None. We were all joking that year and said it was “And Then There Were None…Because They Cooked The Audience.”

Gail: Oh my gosh, yes! I remember that sweltering heat!

Yes. We, the audience, were sneaking into the kitchen at the intermission to steal ice-packs from the freezer and passing them around to try and not expire along with the characters on stage! It was boiling!

Gail: That’s right! I had friends in that audience who were going and getting ice, passing it around to each other. It was May but it was later May and it was extraordinary heat! And of course the show takes place in the winter, so we’re all bundled up in coats and sweaters, and there were lines in the show like “Oh, it’s so cold” and I would just roll my eyes whenever one came up!

Oh that was indeed unforgettable! What a show! Now, back to our remaining two— you are…?

Juanita Frederick: I’m Juanita Frederick and I’m playing Truvy and this is my debut with Just Off Broadway.

Tarita Turner: I’m Tarita Turner and I’m playing M’Lynn and this is my first time as well with Just Off Broadway.

Fantastic. So five complete newbies to this company and one Gail. Who survived the heat wars. Now what is it about Steel Magnolias that made you want to come out and audition to be a part of this show? Do you have a working relationship with it because you’ve seen the movie? Or if you’re like me, you were force-fed it every time it came on cable because my mother was such a huge fan, what’s your connection to this story?

ReginaGina: What drew me to Steel Magnolias was it’s a very different role than how I typically get cast. I didn’t know the story until I got the script. I’d never seen anything about it. I learned in rehearsals that there are two versions on film— that I still haven’t seen yet. So when I read the synopsis, I thought “this is girlie-girly.” It’s a step back into who I wanted to be as a little girl if that makes sense. It was an opportunity for me to use my strength in a different, delicate way.

I love that. And I love that you’re coming in blind because so many people come in with a version of the movie in their arsenal and feel like they have to either model their performance based on what they know from the films or that they have to defy what they remember from the films, so I’m really excited to see what you do with it. What about you, Sam? Connection? Attraction?

Samantha: I had never seen Steel Magnolias before hearing about the auditions, but I did go and watch it before coming out, just to see in general what it was about. I read the character list and saw that it was an all-female cast, a small cast, and it was a play. I was so drawn to that, I was so excited to work with such a small, all-female cast, because it’s so rare to find that.

Now Hillary, I think you’ve done this show at least twice before, that I know of, so tell us, what was the draw this time around?

Hillary: Well, actually this will be my fifth go-round with Steel Magnolias. I have a very long love affair with this play. I think it’s extraordinarily well-written and constructed. In the past I’ve played Truvy, I’ve played Clairee twice, and this will be my second go-round as Ouiser. And I would do it again. I’ve always wanted to play M’Lynn, but I may be getting too long in the tooth for that unless I wear a wig when I go to auditions. Her monologues at the end are so powerful. There’s not a bad role in this show. It’s a true ensemble, which I like. And just the relationships, the female bonding, I’m still in touch with Magnolias from my first production which was in 2008. I think it’s a wonderful show for women to do together, especially because of the bonding process. And it’s just a great story. The fact that it’s based on the playwright’s sister— and that experience gives it so much heart.

I learned something new. What an amazing experience to have had and my heart just sings joyously to know that you’re still in touch with your first Magnolias from almost 20 years ago! What about for you, Gail?

Gail: This is the second time that I have done the show and in the same role. I had never seen it before I auditioned the first time.

Really!?

Gail: Yeah. And even when I auditioned, the first time, I still hadn’t seen it. I knew the gist of what it was ab0ut. To be honest, the thing that really drew me to it was not the writing because I hadn’t read it, but there aren’t that many parts for old ladies out there! You know, when you get to be an old bag, you jump on it when there’s a role that you would not have to shave 30 years off of yourself to step into. I love, as has been said, that it’s an all-female cast. That it’s really about relationships. There are so many movies and shows that stereotype women so negatively with other women. It’s really nice to be in something where there is real love among these women.

That’s so beautiful. What about you, Juanita?

Juanita: I was drawn to come out and audition because I watched the movie as a child, any chance I could get. And then when Miss Phylicia Rashad was in that particular version, I loved it even more because she is my favorite actress and anything that she does, I would like to come close to. I am new to Maryland.

Welcome! On behalf of Baltimore and Maryland and theatre in our state!

Juanita: Thank you! I thought this was a great opportunity to come out and get to know actors and get into the community.

Where did you come from before you came to Maryland?

Juanita: Well I came from South Carolina and I was living in New Jersey right before I came here.

Up and down the coast; we love that! Happy to have you. And finally, making our way back around to Tarita, what was the draw?

Tarita: Just like RGG said, I have never seen the movie. Well, I don’t remember seeing the movie. I remember bits and pieces of it, probably because some adult in my world was watching it. I was very curious about ‘what does diabetes look like’ which is probably why that was the only part that I can remember paying attention to. My grandmother was diabetic and I was a kid so we weren’t allowed to talk about it. But I saw the audition and I auditioned because I just wanted to be brave enough to audition. It’s not to get a part, it’s just “am I brave enough to audition and not fall apart?”

Looks like you were, seeing as you’re here.

Tarita: It was definitely “will I get out of the car?” now that I’m here at the audition.

I’m really glad you got out of the car.

Tarita: Thank you, so am I! But I don’t have any ties to the movie, though my mom and I do plan on watching both versions of the movie after the play closes.

I really love this plan. Is your mom going to come and see you in the play?

Tarita: Of course she is! She’ll probably come at least twice.

Wonderful. I love that everyone seems to have similar reasoning for coming out for this show. Now, ReginaGina, you had mentioned you’re taking your talents and pushing them in a different and more delicate direction. How are you finding that you and Shelby are similar or are different? What are you bringing to Shelby, what’s she bringing to you?

ReginaGina: Interesting that you ask that because the last two or three days, I just had to sit with her. And she’s been ripping me open, kind of making me confront some things that made me harden myself. When I first read it, I was like “I loathe this woman.” Because she is so self-centered and so…PINK. My favorite color is red, just to give you some context, but she is just so…PINK. But two nights ago, I sat with a friend as I was just purging some of RGG to make room for Shelby. And he said, “I don’t understand why you don’t see so much of the overlap. She’s loving like you are. You may come through the door like a bull sometimes but that’s because no one’s giving you the opportunity to do it your soft way.” But the chance that you get— oh my God. So I’ve kind of been sitting with that for a while. Maybe I did show them a Shelby and I just haven’t seen it yet.

Oh wow. That is an extraordinary answer. Same question for you, Samantha, but with Annelle. How is it that you and Annelle are similar or different, what are you bringing to her, what’s she bringing to you?

Samantha: I thought that Annelle was my least favorite character from the show because of the religious aspects to her. But Allan said something that really sat with me. He said something like she may be the one with the fewest lines but she’s the one that has the biggest journey. Or the biggest change from beginning to end. Once I looked at her through that lens, she became a lot more interesting to me. She was no longer just some bible-thumper who’s really boring. She has reasons for being this way, her life is just so hard, and what she had to struggle with, but she still finds the courage to be like “I’m going to make it on my own. I’m not going to let my personal tragedy interfere with my ability to do what I need to do.” I just think that’s really lovely. And I think in that sense, we’re both really strong people. I haven’t had to struggle nearly as much as Annelle has, but I have a very strong personality and determination. I’ve had goals that I’ve had planned out for the last ten years of my life that I have managed to accomplish and reach, so I think that’s our similarity.

That is really awesome. What about for you, Hillary, with Ouiser?

Hillary: Well, initially, I was hoping for Clairee, she was my first choice. But this was fine because I have done Clairee twice before. When I told my husband I got Ouiser, he said, “oh, a foul-mouthed, smartass, just like you.” And I think that’s it in a nutshell. I mean not all the time. All Ouiser needed was a little love in her life. That’s her transition. She does transition from the first act to the second act because she realized somebody cared about her. She doesn’t think about any cares about her, she says ‘the only reason people are nice to me is because I have more money than God.’ That’s the way she feels about things. But when Owen comes into her life, she becomes more huma.

I love that for you. And Clairee?

Gail: Clairee reminds me of some of my relatives, both of my grandmothers and a great aunt of mine, who I love so much. I don’t see myself as genteel or as a lady, but that’s why we call it acting! It’s certainly fun.

Awesome. Miss Truvy. Juanita how are you and she similar and different, what are you bringing to her, what’s she bringing to you?

Juanita: I think Truvy and I are similar because she’s very loving. People tell me that I am and I know that I am. I want everyone around me to be comfortable. I want everyone around me to be successful and I am always their cheerleader. The other thing about Truvy and I, where we are similar? I have a tribe. Thank God that I have a tribe of friends, my mother’s friends, and when I read the play, sitting down on my little couch at home, I can say “this is so-n-so, this is Miss-so-n-so.” I have created a text-thread with my mother’s friends on it, and with my mother. This play just reminds me to continue to love hard, be grateful for your tribe, don’t take anyone for granted— that’s what Truvy’s doing for me. She’s a reminder to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m not perfect but I do try to love on everybody that’s around me.

All the feels! That’s amazing! And finally, Tarita, M’Lynn. Similar? Different? What’s she bringing to you and you to her?

Tarita: So I don’t have a daughter but I am a daughter and I have a son. I think that there is so much beauty in being that nosy, pushy mom who wants her kid to have a perfect, amazing life. I see myself overstepping bounds, maybe a little bit, I know my mom definitely does, but I think that’s the beauty of being, what they call “Mama Bear” but in my family, it was ducks. We were ducks. I’ve never been chased by a bear, by a Mama Bear, but I have been chased by a Mama Duck. And not only will you get chased by the Mama Duck, but you will have the entire flock— her entire flock coming at you— “mess with this baby and you mess with all of us.” I feel like that’s what this cast has, this group of women in this play does. We all rally around Shelby and M’Lynn and we’re all there for each other. We’re definitely similar in that way. I think I’m a little easier going, but like M’Lynn, I do hold a secret, I can hold a secret.

These a wonderful, heartfelt answers, ladies! Now, ReginaGina, I know you’ve already disclosed that you do not like pink, and that red is your favorite color, but if you had to pick a color in the pink spectrum, what is your shade of pink?

ReginaGina: Actually, what I’m realizing is I look okay in the softer shades of pink. So crazy enough, I had to buy a lot more to get into this role, but I’m not mad at it, because on Wednesdays we were pink.

I love it. Sam, shade of pink that suits you best?

Sam: I didn’t know it was going to have to be pink. Pink is Shelby’s thing. So I’m going to go with rose— wait, for me personally or for Annelle? I think for me personally it would be rose. But for Annelle? She’s going to be multi-hued pink. She’s ombre. Because she changes colors so much.

Okay. Hillary, personal shade of pink? And Ouiser’s shade of…well…color.

Hillary: This will be a little bit difficult because pink is one of my least favorite colors, though if I think about it, my color and Ouiser might be the same and it would be hot pink. I do like hot pink and I am drawn to it. I think, especially in the first half, Ouiser’s hot, she’s always hot so we’ll do twins on that one.

A pink for you, Gail, and a color pink-or-not-pink for Clairee?

Gail: Well, though I am also drawn to hot pink, I’ve got a few hot pink things, practically pink is more along my lines, I think. And Clairee, I picture her in navy blues and grays, classic kinds of colors.

What about a personal pink for you, Juanita, and a color-pink-or-not-pink for Truvy?

Juanita: Well Juanita loves pink. I mean I love pink. So I would say a light pink or maybe bubblegum pink for both myself and for Truvy. We are twinsies.

And what about you?

Tarita: For me, Tarita, I do like pink, I enjoy pink, like a bright pink— whatever color this is— fuchsia? Any color pink, really, bright pink, bright bubblegum pink? I don’t like the pale ones, I find them to be meh. M’Lynn, though, she’s peaches and cream. Which is super-close to pink!

Gail: I’ve lived in my house for 30 years, but when we bought it, every room in the house was a different shade of pink. I couldn’t believe it! Carnation pink, hot pink, pale pink, just— unbelievable.

Hillary: Sounds like it was hosed down in Pepto Bismal!

Gail: You should have seen it.

Hillary: Actually, I think Ouiser’s color is really dog-hair.

Haha! Absolutely! Now, what is the moment in the show that defines the show for you personally? You may or may not be in it, but what is that moment that just says “this is what Steel Magnolias is for me?

ReginaGina: Oh, well, it’s Ouiser’s first entrance. It’s that moment to be honest with you. That’s kind of the first time where you have everybody on the stage appearing together for the first time. And that’s the first time you get to see everybody in their own individual element. So when Ouiser comes in, everybody is like “well, that’s Ouiser.” And it just shows the real love and community of the show. That, for me, is the “alright, we’re off to the races” moment.

I really love that. Sam?

Samantha: It’s the line “I’d rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.” I just love that line. And RGG, you delivered that so well the other day, I just thought it was beautiful. To me, that encompasses the entire show.

Beautiful. Hillary? Moment that makes the show for you?

Hillary: I think, for me, and it’s not when Shelby’s there, it’s after. I think we don’t tell our friends this often enough, but in the after you get that moment where these friends are really saying “you don’t know how wonderful you all are.” Of course we do! But we don’t share that enough with our friends to really let them know how much they mean to us.

We’re getting a range of sentimentality over here. Gail?

Gail: All of that. All of that and, early on, I think Clairee— and I don’t know if it’s a feeling or what— but I think Clairee has the feeling that Shelby isn’t going to be around to be an old lady like she and Ouiser are. And I feel that from probably the second scene on, and it really means something for me.

Oh goodness, there are the tears. This is such an emotionally loaded show and it’s so beautiful to see all of you really connecting so early on. What about for you, Juanita, a moment that really defines this show for you?

Juanita: It’s when Ouiser is explaining to M’Lynn and to Shelby that Drum has gone after her dog and she’s extremely upset about it. And as she’s explaining herself and she’s frustrated and a little bit angry, everyone is listening but we’re all accepting her and we’re giving her the space to vent. And we know she’s a little off her rocker but the acceptance is there. And it reminds me of my friendships. We give each other space to say what we want to say, feel how we want to feel, and we may have to check each other, but it’s that “we’re crazy but we love you” moment.

Absolutely and I love that. What about for you, Tarita?

Tarita: For me, I think it’s actually two scenes. The first when Shelby has the diabetic episode and everybody just jumps in. Even Annelle is like “what should I do?” I thought that that was a beautiful moment where Clairee just springs into action and Truvy just springs into action and they just get on with it. That part is beautiful. And then the scene where we’re saying “Hey, M’Lynn is going to give a kidney.” Shelby says “Mama’s gonna give me a kidney.” And everyone is so upset at first, right? They felt left out of this important thing. And I’m thinking “who sits around and talks about medical stuff like this?”

Gail: Clearly you’re not in your 70s!

Oh my goodness, haha!

Tarita: True, but I think in my experience, we tend to hold back on that stuff. It’s such a personal, private thing to go through—I have to have a kidney transplant and all of this stuff, but the friends— they felt left out not knowing about it. Because they really are family. M’Lynn, early on, says that Clairee has known Shelby as long as she has. M’Lynn birthed that child but she’s able to say that her friend has known her as long as she has? That is such a powerful moment for me and I just love it.

You guys are coming up with so many amazing individual moments that really speak to you, and I am so excited to get to look for all these moments when I come and see it and I know the audiences will be excited too. Is there a moment in the show that just makes you laugh, no matter when it hits or whether you’re a part of that moment or not?

ReginaGina: Oh, well, Ouiser and Clairee are hilarious! Their one-liners are zingers and I have to remind myself sometimes to not laugh because I’m used to these women. But it’s just so hilarious. Those two are just spitfires, balls of hilarious fire.

What about you, Sam, anything making you laugh uncontrollably?

Samantha: Not uncontrollably, but I do think one of my favorites is Ouiser’s line of “what am I going to do with my poor dog” and Clairee follows up with “I’ve got recipe cards right here.” It’s so dark but it always gets me. Thank God I’m in a corner by myself so no one can see me trying not to laugh.

Hillary? What’s funny for you?

Hillary: There’s a lot of good one-liners. I have a couple of favorites. Like, “he’s a real gentlemen, I bet he takes the dishes out of the sink before he pees in it.” But I actually think the funniest line in the play is when Clairee grabs Ouiser and says “Here! Hit this!” I think that’s the best line in the show. I think that’s the funniest line.

What about you, Gail? You going with that line?

Gail: That one is hard for me. To actually be holding somebody else out there to be slapped, I have to get over myself to do that. But I like the line where Shelby has just told Ouiser that she’s going to bring Owen to the Christmas party and Ouiser is all flustered and she says “I don’t know if I can be gracious!”

You guys are cracking me up! I love it! What about for you?

Juanita: Well there’s just so many but I think when Ouiser says “Kill, Rhet, Kill!”

Oh I’m so glad you said that! That’s one of my favorite funny lines too!

Juanita: Yeah, it’s great, because that’s how she feels and she’s going to go on over there and handle her business, and that’s how she’s going to do it. I like that Ouiser is just who she is and says what she wants to say when she wants to say it and I wish we had more people that did that. I wish there were more people who would just say what they’re feeling and thinking.

Absolutely. Tarita?

Tarita: I think it’s like 1,001 funny things in this show, and like my mom always says, “it’s not what you say but how you say it.” But I love when Truvy says “Jezabell!” And I’m like “did you just call this lady a Jezabell for being out here and being wild and young?” It takes so much for me not to crack up. I’m over here muttering to myself, “Get it together, Tarita!”

Juanita: I’m going to wink at you when I say that.

Tarita: Oh I will just fall out! You’ll see my head drop and I’ll be done!

You gals are such a hoot. Now, is there someone that you are looking most forward to coming out to see you in this show?

ReginaGina: No, unfortunately. I kind of alluded to this earlier, but I don’t have much support outside of the friends I’m making here. I’ve pitched it to my family and friends, but in running lines over the weekend I just now realized that I am embarking on a life where I can’t take a lot of people with me. So I’m just happy to get on stage and meet new friends.

And they will be the people that you will take with you. I think all theatre folk are just outcasts looking for our tribe and we find it among each other. That’s part of the beauty of it. Sam, is there anyone you’re looking forward to coming— other than the person you’ll be bringing on stage with you every night?

Samantha: Yeah, I’m far enough along in my pregnancy that the world can know I’m pregnant on stage for real. I mean it’s kind of perfect that Annelle is pregnant in the final scene, I won’t have to try and hide my own bump or pad-up! I’m really very excited for my parents to see this because I’ve only ever done musicals here in the states. I recently moved back from Germany, we were living there for four years. And I finally got to do stage plays over there because the community I was part of did them and I love it. This is the first time that they’re ever going to get to see me do that and I’m so excited.

That’s awesome! Welcome to the world of non-musical theatre! It’s beautiful and fun and challenging in its own way. Anyone you’re excited to have come out and see you, Hillary?

Hillary: Actually, I’m giving everybody a break this time because they’ve seen me do it so many times. But I found out today, the woman that I work for at Towson, I work for the nursing school as a standardized patient, but she said her husband is going to drive them all down to see it. So I’m pleased for anybody to come. Most of the people I know live really far away, so this is not around the corner for them, so whoever comes is great I’m just happy to have an audience. And if they enjoy it that’s great because that means we all did our jobs.

Absolutely! Anybody you’re looking forward to having here, Gail?

Gail: I have my tribe and I’m happy that they’re going to be coming but I have two brothers who have always been very supportive of me. And during the course of this show, my older brother died.

I am so very sorry for your loss.

Gail: Thank you. He never missed my shows and it’s going to be difficult knowing he won’t get to see this one.

Juanita, anyone coming for you that will be extra special to see in the audience?

Juanita: My parents. I think that they are coming from South Carolina. They usually go wherever I go. I love them, they love me, and they like me, so I’m thankful. My mother actually went to undergrad here in Baltimore, so it’s a return for them!

Tarita? Anyone special?

Tarita: Hopefully a lot of my friends and family will come but the most important— and I love to say this— is my mom! I’m excited. And RGG, she will pump you up. She loved you in Raisin and she will give you all hugs and kisses, she’s a hugger! My mom is my biggest cheerleader, my husband is my biggest supporter. So by the time the production gets here, he’ll probably be sick of this, and be sick of me saying “Babe, can you run lines with me?” he’ll know the play. But my mom is my absolute biggest cheerleader.

Now you mentioned that you have a son, is he old enough to be at the theatre for a full-length play?

Tarita: I hope so. He’s 22!

Haha! I wasn’t sure if he was a little-little or not.

Tarita: He will definitely be here as well. The last show that I did he pulled some of his friends along to see that, so he might do that here, but this is only my second show so they haven’t had a chance to be sick of me yet!

I love this. And yes to your son bringing his friends! That’s awesome! Theatre is for everyone! Now, if you ladies had to take a moment and put your marketing hat on and tell people why they should come out to Just-Off Broadway and see Steel Magnolias, what would you tell them?

ReginaGina: You have to come see Steel Magnolias because it literally gives us a lens on what happens when we allow women to just be who and what women need to be for each other within the community that they’re in.

That is a beautiful response. Sam?

Samantha: It’s a beautifully written play that just explores all topics— humor, emotion, tragedy, and it wraps it all up so beautifully. It’s all women and that is just really exciting and really fun to watch.

Hilary: It’s hard to think of something different. I did mention before that I’m so drawn to it because of how well it’s written and constructed. I think it’s because it’s so real. I think men could probably identify with it as well because it’s about friendships. I think friendships for men are different than friendships for women. But it’s nice to look at it through another eye, to look and see what friendships can be and see how you can be there for one another. It’s just fun. It’s well-written, there’s giggles, like Sam was just saying, and there’s tears. “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion” says Truvy and I think that really encapsulates the whole experience.

Gail, I see you having some of those tears right now, you want to grab ahold of Ouiser over here so you can take a whack at her?

Hillary: Are you crazy!?

See, that got everyone laughing again. Gail, why should people come out to see Steel Magnolias?

Gail: It is, even though I was not one of those people who had watched the show a million times and I had not watched it ever, it is a show that so many people, most of my friends too, have watched over and over. It’s really nice for people who have loved the movie to see the play, which is a little different since it all takes place in the beauty shop. I feel like people in the audience are anticipating what’s happening and they’re feeling it with us as we’re experiencing it.

Absolutely. And I think a part of why it is so successful on stage is because all of those people you mentioned who have seen the film over and over and who love the movie, all of the little hallmarks they’re looking for, all of those iconic lines, they’re all there. And there are quite a few other stage-screen shows out there— immediately coming to mind are Grease and It’s a Wonderful Life— who are really far-off from their film counterpoints and people come in looking for those iconic moments or musical numbers and then leave disappointed when they don’t find them. And you just don’t have that with Steel Magnolias. All of those lines and moments are all still there. Sorry, I derailed us there. Juanita, why do you want the world to come out and see Steel Magnolias?

Juanita: People of the world, you all have to come out and see Steel Magnolias because it gives you a chance to feel. There’s a lot of different layers in the play.  You can be joyful and it also gives you a few moments where you will question life. I think that maybe people can walk away tapping into some things that maybe they’re dealing with and have been questioning. So come out here and maybe get a release for yourself.

Absolutely. Tarita?

Tarita: Because it’s Mother’s Day weekend. If you want to take your mom out for mother’s day weekend or the weekend before, we’re running both weekends. If you want to have a mother’s day gift for your mom, or your grandma, or your auntie, or your sister that is a mom, or anyone you know that is a mom, bring them out to see this show. Give the ladies in your life an experience, give them a ticket to live theatre for Mother’s Day or the weekend before Mother’s Day. We appreciate experiences. And you don’t have to talk the whole time, we’ll be doing that up on the stage, and it’s affordable! And the parking is good! You don’t have pay for parking and you don’t have to walk 7,000 million miles.

Tarita wins marketing person of the evening! Now, final two. One is hard and one is impossible. What is your biggest personal takeaway from being involved with this production of Steel Magnolias up to this point in the process?

ReginaGina: I think it’s more that I’ve been trying to hide how much I’ve changed because of being a part of this production. I’ve been afraid— like little Regina, who started this whole thing— has never been allowed to be the big personality and the big personality and the only girl, and Shelby. She’s never been allowed to do that. And now that I’ve worked myself into the space where people walk in rooms and say “I’ve seen you on stage.” I’ve got to accept that. It’s been hard to look at myself and feel like I’m beautiful and that I’m amazing. I’m doing a Viola Davis here, “You is smart, you is kind, you is important.” I’ve been mothering myself to a very healed and healthy space and Steel Magnolias was divinely aligned for me to do so. I’m trying so hard to not always be the ‘sad little West Baltimore’ girl in every production, but God damnit, that’s who I am.

But that’s okay! You be you!

ReginaGina: And it is and I am. And I don’t have to wear that all the time. I’m just going to make the best of it because I’m here. And I promise I won’t flatten your grass.

Hillary: And we’re glad you’re here. And you deserve to be and feel whoever you are.

You guys are such a tightknit bunch; I love that. And she’s right. Give the space to your feelings, you have made it, you are not just ‘tree number3 on the left’, you have arrived.

ReginaGina: I really appreciate you all.

This is so beautiful. Sam, what’s your takeaway?

Samantha: Just as an actress, it’s been working with Allan and learning this character and finding strategies for digging into this character.

Lovely! Hillary?

Hillary: Biggest personal takeaway, and I hope everybody will take this with the love and the joy that I say this, fifth go-round, first time with a color-blind cast, and I feel very enriched by that. I think that’s my favorite part of doing this particular production and how it doesn’t matter to any of us. I think we were a little slow to come together but I think in listening to everybody through this conversation, we’re really now a unit. We’re here for each other and I just find so much joy in that.

You all are making me cry. Gail?

Gail: It is just reinforcement of the importance of not trying to go everything alone. The need for and the joy of relationships is real. I have male friends but there is something about female friends. And I really hope that the audiences will feel what we feel for each other.

I’m sure they will. You guys really sound like you are on a level with one another that I think is going to translate beautifully from the stage. Juanita, biggest personal takeaway?

Juanita: I mentioned this earlier, I think. To keep loving. Take care of those around you. I try to do that every day. Sometimes I’m a little helicopter with it but I am who I am. Also, I’ll say for Juanita the actress, I’m taking away this sense of “keep going.” Just keep going. I came to this audition, I didn’t know what would happen. I said, “I don’t really know anybody here in Maryland but I’m going to go in here and try.” I needed to get going at some point. This is my home now. I didn’t know what would happen. When I was contacted, I said, “Woo! Yay! I’ve still got something here!” So the takeaway is just to keep going, to keep thinking positively as I continue to grow in my craft.

Tarita: I think my biggest takeaway, not only for the characters in the play but for the ladies here, having a variety of different friends and people that you call your tribe is so important because it literally 12 different personalities. The characters are so completely different, they’re all so completely different. Te age range is so beautiful and to still have those connections that you’ve developed across that age range is amazing. And us six are all also very different people in our individual lives. It’s a beautiful reminder for me that it’s okay to not have “all group-A” and sometimes when you mix those groups together, beautiful things can happen. Your group-A does not have to be separate from your group-D, they can all join together and it can be really amazing.

That is a fantastic sentiment. And you’ve all really given me so much to look forward to. Now, the final question— if you had to sum up your experience working on Steel Magnolias here at Just-Off Broadway using just one word, which word do you use?

ReginaGina: Illuminating. I use that word just because it’s very transformative, it’s warm, and it’s whole.

Samantha: I’m going to go with timely. I think it is very timely in a lot of our lives, I think it is very well-scheduled and well-produced, and it’s just a good time to be doing this show.

Hillary: Collaborative. We all have our input. I find that to be reassuring and enriching.

Gail: Supportive.

Juanita: Comforting.

Tarita: This is only my second show so I would have to say different. Two totally different casts, two totally different directors, so it’s just been different, which is lovely. It’s not a bad different, it’s just different, it’s a new learning experience.

Steel Magnolias plays May 2^nd 2025 through May 11^th 2025 with Just Off Broadway at Epiphany Lutheran Church— 4301 Raspe Avenue in Baltimore, MD. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online.