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Ira High School students (l-r) Jordan Mathis, Alyssa Goodwin, Sage Waltz and Sarah Spradlin rehearse the first scene of Steel Magnolias. Ira will stage the play during the University Interscholastic League district competition at Borden County High School on March 6.
Ira High School is bringing the southern comedy Steel Magnolias to the one-act play stage for University Interscholastic League competition this spring.
The all-female cast has been rehearsing the Robert Harling play for the past few weeks.
Director Dale Jones said the cast and crew have been improving with each practice and said they will be prepared for the March 6 district competition at Borden County High School.
Jones selected the play because of the female performers returning this year.
“We had some strong girls coming back this year and I was looking for a play featuring the girls,” he said.
The one-act play follows the original Harling play that takes place in Truvy’s beauty salon in northwestern Louisiana.
The play was adapted for the big screen and television and included more characters. The play only highlighted the six women.
Alyssa Goodwin plays Truvy and Ainsley Manning is Annelle, her assistant. Shelby is played by Sage Waltz and M’Lynn, Shelby’s mother, is played by Sarah Sparadlin.
Clairee, the widow of the former mayor, is played by Jordan Mathis and Ashlee Bowlin is portraying Ouiser, the town’s wealthy curmudgeon.
The alternates are Hannah Caswell, Katelynn Oliarez, Karina Cowan and Alyssa Cowan.
Crew members are Raemi Castillo, Nathan Goodwin, Alexis Reed, Kylie Miller, Mattie Martin, Shyia Hill and Taylor Chavez.
Stephanie Partain is helping Jones direct the production.