Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Condola Rashad and More Set for Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias

Broadway veterans Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and her daughter, Stick Fly's Condola Rashad, will star alongside Oscar nominee Queen Latifah (Chicago) in Lifetime’s previously announced TV adaptation of Steel Magnolias. The ladies will be joined by Jill Scott and Adepero Oduye in this contemporary remake of Robert Harling’s 1987 play and subsequent 1989 film adaptation. Directed by Broadway’s Kenny Leon (Fences, Stick Fly), the made-for-TV movie begins filming in Atlanta in April and will premiere later in 2012.

Steel Magnolias chronicles the lives and friendship of six Louisiana-based women who congregate at Truvy’s beauty shop to ponder the mysteries of life and death, husbands and children.

Queen Latifah will star as M’Lynn and Condola Rashad will play her daughter, Shelby, originally played onscreen by Sally Field and Julia Roberts, respecitvely. Rounding out the cast are Emmy winner Alfre Woodard as Ouiser, Tony winner Phylicia Rashad as Clairee, Grammy winner Jill Scott as Truvy and Pariah star Adepero Oduye as her assistant, Annelle.

Steel Magnolias premiered off-Broadway in 1987 before being adapted into a major motion picture starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton (Truvy), Shirley MacLaine (Ouiser), Olympia Dukakis (Clairee) and Daryl Hannah (Annelle). In 2005, a revival of the show opened at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre and starred Christine Ebersole, Delta Burke, Rebecca Gayheart, Marsha Mason, Frances Sternhagen and Lily Rabe. The production closed after 136 performances.