Long Island Theatre Spotlight
THE MINSTREL PLAYERS
The Minstrel Players Theatre Company of Northport prepare for their production of Robert Harling's beloved Southern Comedy/Drama, "Steel Magnolias". Performances began on June 10th and runs through June 25th at Houghton Hall Theatre at Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main Street in scenic Northport Village. Performances will take place on Saturdays, June 17th and 24th at 8 P.M. and Sundays, June 18th and 25th at 3 P.M. The performance on Saturday June 17th will be a special Dinner Theatre production with dinner beginning at 6:30 P.M.
The Minstrel Players are fresh off their critically acclaimed staging of Neil Simon's "Come Blow Your Horn" seen here in February. "Steel Magnolias" features the directorial return of Ray Palen, who has not directed since "Don't Drink the Water" in the winter of 2005. The all-female cast features Minstrel veterans as well as two newcomers: Meghan Selmeski (Annelle), Irene Hourigan (Ouiser), Tara Lawrence (Truvy), Aamira Martinez (Shelby), Karen Ottomano (M'Lynn), and Roseann Baldanza (Clairee) represent the principals in this production. The action of Harling's "Steel Magnolias" is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser; an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a "good ole boy". Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, the spunky Shelby (who is diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength- and love - which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.
The Minstrel Players are committed to bringing "World Class", affordable theater to the Long Island Region. Tickets are $14.00 each and $12.00 for Seniors/Children under 12. Opening Night special features all seats at $10 each. Dinner Theatre tickets are $30 each. For more information please call 631-732-2926. You may also visit the Minstrel Player's official website at
www.minstrelplayers.org
The Minstrel Players
@ Trinity Episcopal Church
130 Main Street
Northport, New York 11768
631-732-2926
Directions:
Take Northern Parkway to Exit 42N (231N)
OR
LIE (495) to Exit 51 (Follow Pink Line)
Take 231 North 1/4 mile to 66 East (Follow Red Line)
Merge from 66E onto Route 25 East(Jericho Turnpike)
Make the first left at Elwood Road (Shell and Blockbuster on the left)
Take Elwood Road approx. 4 Miles to 25A (Fort Salonga Road)
Go straight across Fort Salonga Road (25A) onto Reservoir Ave.
Take Reservoir Ave. about 1/3 mile and merge onto Church St.
Follow Church St. about 1/3 mile to Main St. (Church on the left and another church on the right)
Make a left onto Main St.
Take Main St. about 1/4 mile, Trinity Episcopal Church is on the left