(L-R) Lindsey Dress, Mary Webb, Lisa Barnett, Erica Stuppler, and Dawn Lanoue.

(EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Playhouse 22 presents "Steel Magnolias" by Robert Harling, weekends from April 12-28, 2024. Better-known by the film with the same name, the play is a comedy-drama set in rural Louisiana about a group of gossipy women who are concerned about relationships with their families, loved ones, people in the community and most importantly themselves. The production is directed by directed by Ken Webb.

Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher, local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"), intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town.

The cast includes Lindsey Dress as "Shelby", Mary Webb as "Truvy", Lisa Barnett as "M’Lynn", Erica Stuppler as "Annelle" and Dawn Lanoue as "Clairee", Kate McLain as "Ouiser".

Kate McLain as “Ouiser”

Performances take place on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm. Tickets are $24/adults and $22/students and seniors and are available for purchase online or by calling 732-254-3939.

Playhouse 22 is located at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.  For more information, visit Playhouse22.org or call 732-254-3939.

Playhouse 22 is an all-volunteer run community theater located in Central Jersey.  Founded as the East Brunswick Community Players more than 60 years ago, the Players were theater "nomads" traveling throughout the region putting on shows wherever space was available.

(L-R) Erica Stuppler as “Annelle” and Lisa Barnett as “M’Lynn”

​Twenty-two years after its founding, the Players, through a partnership with the Township of East Brunswick, moved into its first home -- "Playhouse 22".  The original Playhouse 22 was a mix of a nearly century old schoolhouse, a retired public works garage and trailer which served as its home until 2005.

​In the early 2000's, the Playhouse 22 board was approached by the Township once again with the opportunity to vacate the theater in hopes of moving into a new state of the art Community Arts Center being designed down the street.  After a series of meetings and discussions, it was decided that the troupe was moving.

Lindsey Dress as “Shelby”

After a longer-than-expected wait, the Players moved into the Arts Center in the fall of 2009 with Neil Simon's The Odd Couple: Female Version opened in September 2009.  Since 2009, Playhouse 22 has grown into a home for all types of theatrical arts ranging from our mainstage musical like Into the Woods, The Producers, 1776, to plays such as Death of a Salesman, Noises Off, and Rumors.  Playhouse 22 has also staged an original production of A Christmas Carol since 1994.

In addition, Playhouse 22 presents a series of special events throughout the year, including their widely acclaimed "Third Thursday Play Reading" series with allows local playwrights to present their works in front a live audience -- often for the first time.  Other special events include live music concerts, their popular two day Theater Festivals, and events for children.

Photos by Paul Porowski for Playhouse 22