Jan Maxwell to Lead Judith Ivey’s Starry Steel Magnolias Benefit Reading

Five-time Tony nominee Jan Maxwell will star as southern matriarch M’Lynn in Judith Ivey’s starry 25th anniversary reading of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias. The one-night-only event takes place at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on December 3 and proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Maxwell joins an all-star cast, which includes Celia Keenan-Bolger as Maxwell’s daughter Shelby, TV star Annie Potts as Truvy, Tony winner Blythe Danner as Clairee, Tony winner Margo Martindale (who played Truvy in the original Steel Magnolias production) as Ouiser and Sarah Stiles as Annelle. 

Steel Magnolias first premiered off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre on March 28, 1987 and transferred to the Lucille Lortel later that year. The anniversary reading will be supported by the honorary committee comprised of the cast of the 1989 film adaptation: Olympia Dukakis (Clairee), Sally Field (M’Lynn), Daryl Hannah (Annelle), Shirley MacLaine (Ouiser), Dolly Parton (Truvy) and Julia Roberts (Shelby).

Maxwell has been nominated for Tony Awards for her work in Follies, The Royal Family, Lend Me a Tenor, Coram Boy and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. She is one of only two actress in history to be nominated for a Tony Award in all four acting categories.

Check out M'Lynn's major Steel Magnolias meltdown in the scene below, starring Sally Field and the ladies of the 1989 film.