Steel Magnolias – TrueNorth Cultural Arts 2010

TrueNorth Cultural Arts
Richard A. Fortney, Artistic Director

presents

by Robert Harling

“Harling has given his women sharp, funny dialogue…The play builds to a conclusion that is deeply moving.” —NY Daily News.

“…a skillfully crafted, lovingly evoked picture of eccentricity in the small-town South…Robert Harling is a new voice in the theatre and the qualities of STEEL MAGNOLIAS suggest he may be an important one.” —Drama-Logue.

“…suffused with humor and tinged with tragedy.” —NY Post.

THE STORY: The action 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. 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.

Heather Brown (Shelby) is thrilled to have the opportunity to portray one of the complex women in Steel Magnolias and to cross off one more role on her theatre “bucket list.” A native of Washington, D.C., Heather has performed on stages up and down the East coast and abroad in England, yet is pleased to call Ohio home (for the past 6 months). While awaiting the beginning of rehearsals, she is keeping busy working on Little Shop of Horrors(Audrey) which opens October 22nd at TrueNorth Cultural Arts Center. She was most recently seen in The Producers (Little Old Lady, Unicycling Hitler, Follies Girl, Nun, Ensemble) at The Beck Center and The Full Monty(Pam Lukowski) at Huntington Playhouse. Heather’s favorite productions include Cabaret (Fraulein Kost) at Paramount Theatre, Ruthless! (Eve) at the Magnolia Arts Center, Overtones (Harriet Sterling) at Turnage Theatre, and the international tour of Working (Grace Clements/ Dance Soloist/ Ensemble). Recent film credits include Tick Bite (Crystal Gail Cooper) with Noble Jester Productions and Shes Bad But You’re No Better (Mistress) music video. Heather thanks Fred Sternfeld for his amazing vision and sends her sincere gratitude to this beautiful cast, everyone who has endured her ‘Steel Magnolias’ quotes for years, her supportive husband and perfect children.

Sue Cohen (M’Lynn) will be making her TrueNorth debut and she is absolutely thrilled that Fred has given her the opportunity to play a role she has wanted to play since she was old enough for the part. She just finished playing Marion in Postmortem at Western Reserve Playhouse and was recently seen as Jo Ann in Vanities for Stow Players. Some of her favorite roles include Bella in Lost in Yonkers, Karen Andre in Night of January 16th, Julie in Jake’s Women, Elizabeth in Catch me If You Can, Sarah Bernhardt in Ladies of the Camellias, and Ruth in Blithe Spirit. She has won several acting awards from the Ohio Community Theater Association (OCTA); Excellence in Acting for Julie, Merit in Ensemble for Vanities, and was part of the ensemble of The Laramie Project for Weathervane Playhouse which won both regional and state acting awards. She is a Regional Rep for the Northeast Region of OCTA. Sue has two grown children; Ryan who lives in Maryland with her daughter in law, Jen and Jessica who is a sophomore at Ohio University. She works as an Account Executive for Star Foods in Beachwood. Sue would like to dedicate this performance to her godmother Mary Mullen who passed away this year; she was partly responsible for Sue’s passion for acting as she gave her a biography of Sarah Bernhardt many years ago and triggered her interest in Sarah’s craft.

Richard A. Fortney (Founder & Executive Director – TrueNorth Cultural Arts) established TrueNorth Cultural Arts in 1999. At TrueNorth, Mr. Fortney conducts the TrueNorth Chorale, serves as Musical Director for its theatre productions, and serves as TrueNorth’s Artistic Director in theatre, music, visual arts and dance. He founded the TrueNorth Orchestra, serving as its conductor for 5 years. Throughout his career, Mr. Fortney has demonstrated effective program development, administration and performance with organizations on both professional and community levels. His accomplishments include student program development serving as the Director of Student Affairs with The Manhattan School of Music, the Assistant Director of Campus and Residence Life with the State University of New York – College at Purchase, and as the Assistant to the Director of Student Affairs at Bluffton College. He founded the Avon Lake Men’s Chorus, which he subsequently led for nine years. Mr. Fortney previously served as the Director of Choral Activities at Cleveland’s John Marshall High School, 2000 – 2008, and directed and brought back to the Cleveland system the Cleveland’s All-City High School Choir in 2001. Mr. Fortney was the Music Director of Mighty Goliath Productions in, 2007 and 2008. He also served as the Minister of Music at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Amherst (2007 – 2009), the Director of Music and Creative Arts Ministries at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Bay Village (1999 – 2006), and as the Director of Worship Ministries / Minister of Music at Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village (1990 – 1999). He also served as President of Riverside Academy of Music’s Board of Trustees (2000-2001), and as a part-time adjunct professor at Lorain County Community College teaching music theory and served as conductor for both the choir and orchestra while faculty was on sabbatical or sick leave. His professional singing resume includes performances with New York Choral Artists, Musica Sacra, Trevor Pinnock’s Classical Band Chorus, The New York Concert Singers, The Juilliard Singers, The National Chorale, The David Dussing Singers, and featured Soloist within the Calvary Baptist Chamber Concert Series. Theatrically he was Spirit McCoy in the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s in Beckley, West Virginia outdoor theatre; worked with American Entertainment, singing at Convention Shows, State Fairs and Cruise Ships for a number of years; and was in the opera chorus for three seasons with Director Peter Sellers while living in New York City. Since returning to Ohio he has been with Mighty Goliath Productions, Huntington Playhouse, and ACT of Brunswick; as an active chorister, he is a member of CleveWest Music Consorte, and The Canterbury Singers, USA with which he has sung several choral residencies at Cathedrals throughout England. Mr. Fortney received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Degrees from Bowling Green State University.

Bebe Weinberg Katz (Costumes Designer), B.A., M. Ed. Bebe’s credits extend into deep into the arts. Most recently Bebe choreographed Children of Eden and the Ohio premier of Thirteen at FPAC and Baby at TrueNorth.Bebe is currently a staff member of Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) as the supervisor for the Production Workshop and also the new Dance specialty. She has danced, choreographed, staged, designed, directed, taught, written and illustrated. As an educator, Bebe has taught dance, movement education and /or fitness and wellness to children, teens and adults in the public schools, Baldwin-Wallace College, Cleveland State University, the Jewish Community Center, in her own studio, in private dance studios and Camp Wise. Her dance credits extend from Purcell’s Opera The Fairy Queen and The Cathy Powel Dance Company in Pittsburgh to the Dancing Mimes at DanceCleveland, as well as her own company, Center Motion at the JCC. While holding the position of resident choreographer at Euclid High School Bebe worked with the show choir “Varsity Choral” and choreographed the school’s productions of The Music Man, Hello Dolly, Anything Goes, Pajama Game, Pippin, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and Grease. She currently works in both Shaker Heights schools and Cleveland Heights / University Heights school. Bebe is the choreographer for Shaker’s “Chanticleers,” and Cleveland Height’s nationally ranked show choir “Singers.” At CHHS she choreographed and designed the costumes for Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story and The King and I and, as well as doing costume design for the latter two. Bebe has production credentials spanning the 35 years she has lived in Cleveland. She was dance and drama specialist at Camp Wise, and performed the choreographer duties for Mame at Chagrin Valley Little Theater, Anything Goes at Euclid Community Theater, Joseph, Holy Moses, Rock Pinocchio, The Grand Tour and Fiddler on the Roof at the Cleveland JCC. She also directed The Apple Tree for the JCC and was costume assistant for The Wall and The Merry Widow. She also has written and illustrated a number of books. The M.I.M.E Set, an activity book the integrates movement and academics, and three middle grade chapter books titled Princess Claudia and the Freckles, A Best Friend for Claudia and Sibling Wars.

Jessica Kovalski (Annelle) is thrilled to finally do this show! She is a recent graduate of Kent State University with her BA in Theatre Studies. She will be performing in the Tour of Eat (It’s Not about Food) this year, and has recently been seen as Rose of Sharon in The Grapes of Wrath, Alice in You Can’t Take It With You, Catherine in The Foreigner and Ensemble in The Caucasian Chalk Circle. She has worked with CVLT, Weathervane Theatre, Coach House Theatre, Willoughby Fine Arts Association, FPAC and Ohio Shakespeare Festival. Thanks to Fred, for opening so many doors after graduation:) Thanks to Mom, Dad and my Sissy’s for their never ending love and support. Love to: Mark Monday for being a continuous mentor, to my Sixpack, PALS, and Dustin, You guys keep me sane.

Sandra Manos (Clairee) has performed in numerous productions both off-Broadway and regionally. Since moving to Cleveland she has performed at Dobama in The Waiting Room, Crossroads Dancing,The Heart Rising, JCC in Judah’s Daughter and at other local venues. She is also artistic associate of Bodwin Theatre Company. Some of her favorite roles include Gertrude in Hamlet, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Mrs. Alving in Ibsen’s Ghosts, Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, Jocasta in Oedipus Rex, Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, and Rosine in Colonel Chabert, adapted from the Balzac novella by Peter Manos. Sandra studied at The National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York. She is blessed to be married to playwright/director Peter Manos; they have three sons, Sean, Nicholas, and Eli.

Carla Petroski (Truvee) recently played Rosie in Bye, Bye Birdie at Willoughby Fine Arts. She has previously worked with Fred as one of the Pigeon Sisters in The Odd Couple at FPAC, and at the JCC Halle Theater as Sarah Goldman in Beau Jest. Other recent productions: Martha in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? for Ensemble Theatre at the Cleveland Play House, Sally Bowles in both I Am A Camera at the JCC and Cabaret at the Beck Center. Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding at the Hanna Theater gave Carla the opportunity to play 7 different characters. She was also the first female member to perform at Cabaret Dada Improvisational Theater. Carla is a graduate of Cleveland State University and is a tax adviser with H&R Block. She dedicates her performance in remembrance of her Aunt Linda; proprietress of She Beauty Shoppe and a true natural beauty.

Fred Sternfeld (Director) most recently directed Children of Eden and Eat (It’s Not about Food) at FPAC, Yellowman at Karamu Performing Arts Theatre and Baby at TrueNorth Cultural Arts. At Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (FPAC) he directed teen productions of Into the Woods and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as the inaugural professional production of The Odd Couple. Fred is widely represented on Northeast Ohio stages through diverse projects, garnering numerous honors and awards. Recently he directed the award-winning productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Beck Center and Ragtime, the musical at the JCC. He previously served as Artistic Director at Lakewood Little Theatre – Beck Center for the Arts and the Cleveland, Seattle & Dallas Jewish Community Centers. Other selected credits: Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver! & The Sound of Music at Cain Park; The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife & The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at Dobama Theatre; A Shayna Maidel, Jolson and Company, Man of La Mancha, Modern Orthodox, Rags, From Door to Door, South Pacific, The God of Isaac, Beau Jest, Crossing Delancey, The Twilight of the Golds, The Immigrant & Conversations With My Father for the Cleveland JCC; Bad Seed at Ensemble Theatre; Amadeusat Willoughby Fine Arts; Table Settings, Isn’t It Romantic, The Diary of Anne Frank & Broadway Bound at JCC Center Stage in Seattle; Peter Pan (1987 & 2008), On the Town, Of Mice and Men, La Cage aux Folles, Saturday Night, Foxfire, Noises Off, Children of a Lesser God & The Importance of Being Earnest at Beck Center; Proof at GLTG and All My Sons & Enter Laughing at the Dallas JCC. Upcoming directing projects are Company, Les Miserables: School Edition and A Little Night Music, all at FPAC. Check out pictures and reviews for the plays above by going to this link.

Jeanne Task (Ouiser) is very excited to be making her first appearance at TrueNorth Cultural Arts. She has been very active in the Cleveland Theater scene for many years. She was last seen as Martha in the biography written by Mary Bill at Ensemble Theater. Some other credits include: Mrs. Seizmagraff in Betty’s Summer Vacation at the Bang and Clatter, Ensemble in The Laramie Project; Hannah, etc. in Angels in America & Marjorie in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife at Dobama; Azra in Necessary Targets at Willoughby Fine Arts; Old Mary in Oliver & Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music at Cain Park; Mary in From Door to Door, Mama in A Shayna Maidel, Houdini’s Mother / Ensemble in Ragtime, Phyllis Gold in Twilight of the Golds, Gusta in Conversations With My Father and Golde in Fiddler on the Roof at the Cleveland JCC.