Bucks County Playhouse's Starry STEEL MAGNOLIAS Starts Tonight

Bucks County Playhouse's star-studded revival of Robert Harling's saucy Southern comedy STEEL MAGNOLIAS, directed by four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, begins performances tonight, May 27 ahead of tomorrow night's official opening. STEEL MAGNOLIAS is set to run through June 18.

The cast features Clea Alsip ("Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike" at Bucks County Playhouse) as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie, Lucy DeVito (Nora and Delia Ephron's "Love, Loss and What I Wore") as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, Elaine Hendrix (FX's "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll") as Truvy Jones. They join previously announced Patricia Richardson as M'Lynn ("Home Improvement"), Susan Sullivan as Clairee Belcher (ABC's "Castle") and Jessica Walter as Ouiser Boudreaux ("Arrested Development").

At Truvy's Beauty Salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana the hair is big and the gossip is juicy. While their coifs are perfected and daily lives debated, six distinctly different women forge a unique bond of sisterhood - one that even when put to the test, only grows stronger. Infused with heart and humor, STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a hilarious story of love, loss, and enduring friendship.

Four-time Academy Award Nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Marsha Mason returns to direct for the second time on the Playhouse Stage. Mason previously directed Neil Simon's "Chapter Two" at Bucks County Playhouse. She is not the only member of the production making a return.

Having earned acclaim and a new generation of fans for her recent television appearances as Lucille Bluth in "Arrested Development" and for voicing the role of Malory Archer on the popular FX animated series "Archer," Jessica Walter, a Golden Globe nominee for "Play Misty for Me," is returning to the Playhouse where she first appeared onstage as a teenager.

Walter will star opposite Golden Globe and Emmy nominee, Susan Sullivan, who is familiar to audiences for her long-time roles on "Falcon Crest" and "Dharma & Greg" and is currently seen on ABC TV's "Castle."

Sullivan and Walter are joined by Patricia Richardson who is best known for her role as Jill Taylor on the TV sitcom "Home Improvement." Richardson garnered four Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for this role, and went on to have recurring roles in "The West Wing" and "Strong Medicine," for which she received two Prism Award nominations. Richardson also boasts a formidable Broadway career, originating roles in Michael Weller's "Loose Ends" and Beth Henley's "The Wake of Jamie Foster."

Gabe Weissman will co-direct with Mason. Lauren Helpern is scenic designer with lighting design by Gina Scherr and costume design by Nicole Moody. Matthew Given serves as sound designer.

Bucks County Playhouse will offer discounted preview performances of STEEL MAGNOLIAS on Friday, May 27 at 8 pm and Saturday, May 28 at 2pm. Tickets to preview performances are only $30. Opening night is Saturday, May 28 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $40-$84 plus fees.

Single tickets to STEEL MAGNOLIAS are on sale now. For full details, and to purchase tickets, visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA.