Blythe Danner, Annie Potts and More Set for STEEL MAGNOLIAS NYC Reading, 12/3

Producer David Youse and Four Things Productions in association with L.A. Works has just announced a celebrity staged reading in celebration of The 25th Anniversary of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias to take place on Monday, 3 December 2012 at 7pm to benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This special one night only event will take place at the Lucille Lortel Theater located at 121 Christopher Street in New York City, where the original production performed. Directed by Judith Ivey and starring Blythe Danner, Annie Potts as M'Lynn, the original Truvy, Margo Martindale as Ouiser, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Shelby and Sarah Stiles as Annelle. Additional cast announced soon! Music for this production has been generously donated by Bonnie Raitt and Pat Boone. With support from the 25th Anniversary Honorary Committee including Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts and sponsored by Lifetime Television, Magnolia Bakery and Veranda Restaurant. A VIP reception with the cast and crew will follow this special performance.

TICKETS To purchase tickets or to inquire as to sponsorship information please visit the Steel Magnolias 25th Anniversary website. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter @SteelMag25years
MEDIA Contact Workhouse, CEO Adam Nelson via nelson@workhousepr.com

The original stage production of “Steel Magnolias” opened Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre, in New York City, on March 28, 1987, under the tutelage of artistic director Kyle Resnick. It was directed by Pamela Berlin and featured Margo Martindale as Truvy, Constance Shulman as Annelle, Kate Wilkinson as Clairee, Mary Fogarty as Ouiser, Blanche Baker as Shelby and Rosemary Prinz as M'Lynn. The production transferred to the Lucille Lortel Theatre on June 19, 1987, and closed on February 25, 1990 after 1,126 performances. Betsy Aidem took over the role of Shelby, and notable replacements included Rita Gardner as M'Lynn and Anne Pitoniak as Ouiser. The play went on to become a successful and critically-acclaimed Oscar-nominated feature film starring Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dylan McDermott, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard and Tom Skerritt.

Four Things Productions President, David Youse, is committed to building awareness to non-profit organizations by producing live theater events through his experience and knowledge as an actor and advocate for over twenty-five years. In 2010, David produced the The 25th Anniversary reading of The Normal Heart, by Larry Kramer, in Los Angeles, at The Geffen Playhouse, directed by Joel Grey, which benefited The Jeffrey Goodman Clinic, and Charles Busch as Katharine Hepburn in Matthew Lombardo's, Tea At Five, directed by Rob Ruggiero, to benefit The Ali Forney Center at The Lucile Lortel Theatre, in 2011. David will be presenting a re-visted version of "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" written by Ed Graczyk, to benefit The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, in 2013.

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