Cast announced for 'Steel Magnolias'

TIFFIN --- The Ritz Players are to present "Steel Magnolia's this May, and the cast has officially been announced. Performance days are 7:30 p.m. May 4, 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. May 5, at the Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St. A play by Robert Harling, 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 (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town's rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M'Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), 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, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. Steel Magnolias is presented through special arrangement with Dramatist Play Services. The production is sponsored by Croghan Colonial Bank. The cast is as follows: Jerri Measley (Truvy) of Perrysburg; Kenzie Franks (Annelle) of Marblehead; Mimi Lange Johnston (Clairee) of Tiffin; Alexea Noel (Shelby) of Tiffin; Denise Anders (M'Lynn) of Findlay; Beth Schweitzer (Ouiser) of Tiffin; Kristie Drown (DJ) of Republic.