Delta Burke to Star as Truvy in Upcoming Steel Magnolias
Burke made her Broadway debut last year as Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Early in her career, Burke represented Florida in the Miss America pageant. While she did not win the title of Miss America, she did receive a talent scholarship that led her to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After graduation, she returned to the states and quickly landed a part in the teen television movie Zuma Beach. Burke worked consistently in the following years including landing large parts in the short-lived television series The Chisholms and Filthy Rich and in 1984 got her first big break when she was cast as football owner Diane Barrow in the popular show 1st & Ten. Two years after she started with 1st & Ten, Burke debuted in the role that would make her career, Suzanne Sugarbaker in TV's Designing Women.
Designing Women made Burke a household name and it was on its set that she met future husband Gerald McRaney, who guest-starred on the series as Suzanne's first husband. She earned two Emmy nominations for the comedy. She left the still successful show after the 1990-1991 season. Though she had her own series Delta in 1992 and reprised the role of Suzanne Sugarbaker in 1995's Women of the House, Burke also has a successful line of clothing, The Delta Burke Collection and is the author of Delta Style: Eve Wasn't a Size 6 and Neither Am I, which is part memoir, part fashion guide.
Steel Magnolias is set it a small town beauty parlor in Louisiana and follows the lives of several women who often meet there. The story pays particular attention to M'Lynn Ebersole and her daughter Shelby. Both a comedy and a tearjerker, there are eccentric characters galore in the play, including beauty-shop owner Truvy.
The original production of the play opened off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1987 and quickly moved to the larger Lucille Lortel Theatre, where it ran for 1,126 performances. Margo Martindale played Truvy in the original company and Dolly Parton took on the role in the popular 1989 film version.
Broadway's Steel Magnolias, directed by Jason Moore, is aiming for an April 4 opening.