Cast named for 'Steel Magnolias'

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
Geraldine Tobola walked into the Rear Window Listening Room, quiet, reserved, polite. Auditions for the TownHall Players performance of Steel Magnolias were about to begin, and she sat with the rest of the aspiring cast, waiting her turn to read, quietly.
“I’ll read for Ouiser,” she said, almost meekly.
But when her time to read came, the boistrous, rowdy Louisiana curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux erupted out of Geraldine, her voice screeching through the room, landing harshly on the ears of listeners. Director Jonel Knuppel audibly gasped, delighted. Where had this come from?
One by one, the stage hopefuls found their voices, and their perfect character. Everybody did so well that Knuppel chose two casts, each of which will have two performances in June.
Knuppel herself will direct one cast, and Shelby Macha will direct the other. The crew will be led by Shirley Schmitt.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 18 at 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 25 at 2:30 p.m. Each cast will have an evening performance and a matinee.