Steel Magnolias is set in a small-town beauty parlor owned by a woman named Truvy in Louisiana and follows the lives of several women who often meet there. The story pays particular attention to M'Lynn and her daughter Shelby. Both a comedy and a tearjerker, there are eccentric characters galore in this touching play.
The play explores the lives of ordinary women going through situations that the average person could relate to. The characters are realistic and witty, and as the play progresses, their camaraderie and the community of the beauty salon becomes increasingly apparent. The strength of the characters ties them together through the best and worst of times.
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.