BWW Previews: Henderson, Struthers, Cooke And Gaffney Star In STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Coyote Stageworks

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley-based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company, will begin its 2016-2017 "Legendary Ladies" season on November 26, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. with a staged reading benefit gala performance of the beloved production "Steel Magnolias," by playwright Robert Harling. It will feature performances by well-known actresses Florence Henderson, Sally Struthers, Carole Cooke, Mo Gaffney, Yo Younger and Elaine Hayhurst and will be held at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Tickets for the benefit gala are $75 and $125 per person (for performance only) and $250 per person, which includes a VIP cast reception in the museum following the performance. Tickets are available at annenbergtheater.org or by calling (760) 325-4490.

"Steel Magnolias" is a comedy/drama that features an all-female cast and poignantly portrays the bond a group of Southern women in northwest Louisiana share and how they cope with the death of one of their own. It ran on Off-Broadway from 1987 through 1990 and featured an impressive 1,126 performances. It was then made into a blockbuster film in 1989 that earned $83.7 million at the box office and starred Daryl Hannah, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and Olympia Dukakis. "Steel Magnolias" also opened on Broadway in 2005.

Florence Henderson will play the role of M'Lynn Eatenton, a social worker and mother of Shelby, who suffers from type one diabetes. Henderson is best known for her role of Carol Brady on the popular TV series "The Brady Bunch," which ran from 1969 - 1974. Sally Struthers will play the role of Truvy, a beautician and the town gossip. Struthers is best known for her role of Gloria Stivic on the "All in the Family" television series, which ran from 1971-1979. Veteran actress Carole Cook takes on the role of Louisa "Ouiser" Boudreaux, the Eatenton's next-door neighbor and town curmudgeon. Cook has appeared in musical theatre, film, and television, and is best known for her roles in the original Broadway productions of "42nd Street," "Romantic Comedy," and was the second actress (after Carol Channing) to star as Dolly Levi in "Hello, Dolly!"

Mo Gaffney will play Clairee, the former town first lady. Gaffney has appeared in a wide array of television, film, and Theater Productions, including the "Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives." She recently appeared in the Coyote StageWorks production of "Love, Loss, and What I Wore." Yo Younger will play Shelby, M'Lynn's daughter who suffers from Type 1 diabetes. Yo has starred in many productions for California Regional Theater and other Coachella Valley theater companies and has appeared in a variety of films and television series. Elaine Hayhurst will play the part of Annelle, a newcomer to town and apprentice beautician hired by Truvy. Hayhurst is an actress and writer known for "Gay Son and the Overly Supportive Mom," "World Miracle Story," and "She's an Actress." She previously wowed audiences in the Coyote StageWorks production of "Boeing-Boeing" and "Love, Loss & What I Wore."

Coyote StageWorks eighth season continues with "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks," running from January 27 through February 5, and starring Loretta Swit and David Engel. The season concludes with "The Lady With All the Answers," running April 14 - 23 and starring renowned actress Gloria Loring.

Tickets for Coyote StageWorks' fully staged productions are $45 - $55 for matinees and

$50 - $60 for evening performances. A Q&A session with cast members will follow Thursday matinees. To purchase individual tickets or subscriptions, call 760-325-4490 or visit annenbergtheater.org. For group sales, call 760-318-0024.

Voted "Best Live Theater" by the readers of Desert Magazine in 2013 and 2014, Coyote StageWorks has won 65 Desert Star Awards from the Desert Theatre League, a theater support group that promotes theater in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin. The company received 3 awards for its performances of Art and Agnes of God in the previous season. The Desert Theater League also recently bestowed the coveted 'Michael Grossman Most Inspirational Award' to Chuck Yates, Coyote StageWorks Founding Artistic Director in recognition of his dedication to the craft of theater production.

Coyote StageWorks is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 company dedicated to advancing theatre as a vital art form in the desert communities of the Coachella Valley. It is their mission to provide a forum for thought-provoking, entertaining, and culturally significant works in an environment that nurtures the creativity of the individual and the enrichment of the community. These shows are not Palm Springs Art Museum or Annenberg Theater presentations. For more information about Coyote StageWorks, please visit coyotestageworks.org.

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