By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Players continue their 2025 season with “Steel Magnolias,” a comedy-drama by Robert Harling.
The show will be presented Thursdays through Sundays, May 29 – June 8, at the Barn Theatre in Richmond Hill, Geneseo.
Megan McConville, Geneseo, directs the play.
Heidi Hamer, left, Geneseo; and Pam Kobre, Davenport, rehearse a scene from “Steel Magnolias.” Contributed Photo
Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, LA, where all her regular clients have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her eager and anxious assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the leading women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher; Local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux; intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn and her daughter Shelby, “the prettiest girl in town.”
Shelby’s engagement is on everyone’s mind, but the joy and excitement of her wedding later turns to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy and myriad health complications. As the ladies of Chinquapin make their way past life’s hurdles, they draw comfort and strength from one another, along with a fair amount of verbal ribbing.
The cast includes Megan Abell, Leslie Day, Heidi Hamer, Susan Rakestraw, all of Geneseo; Jessica Moore, Kewanee; and Pam Kobre, Davenport.
The staff includes stage manager Terri Nelson, Lynn Center; stage crew Bella McConville, light/sound designer/operator Jennifer Kingry, set builder Mike Skiles, all of Geneseo; and set builder Jim Skiles, Colona.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Richmond Hill box office at 309-944-2244 or by visiting the website at rhplayers.com.
Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started.
Admission to all performances is $12.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.
An audio description performance will be held Friday, May 30. Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time reservations are made.
ABOUT: RICHMOND HILL PLAYERS - a non-profit community theater group presenting plays in the converted top floor of an old dairy barn in Geneseo since 1968. Approximately 100 active members are involved on and off-stage each year, with actors, directors, backstage personnel, support staffs, and audience drawn from a 75-100 -mile radius that includes cities in both Illinois and Iowa.