At our school, C Milton Wright, we host spectacular plays. Here we have a theater organization that hosts and cast students for our plays. These plays being the Great Gatsby, and the other Steel Magnolia. After interviewing one of the main directors, Mrs. Bullis, we learned a lot about what to expect from this play.
Steel Magnolia is a film written by Robert Harling. This film takes place all the way back in 1989. This is a true story about six women in a small town, supporting each other’s ups and down’s. Inspired by Harling’s own experience of his sister Susan Harling Robinson death in October of 1985.
The cast members Mrs. Bullis picked for this role are Karleigh Freeman (Truvy), Rylee Marcum (Anelle), Sydney Rubenstein (Clairee), Paige Hangen (Shelby), Kenny Morch (M’Lynn), and Korryne Leilich (Ousier). These performers were handpicked by Mrs. Bullis and any other Directors due to their excellent acting skills. The message behind this play is that life goes on from birth to death. Chasing the American Dream is always real and family community taking place in a beauty shop represents this.
Challenges met in this play are that both Steel Magnolia and The Great Gatsby are shown back-to-back. So, setting up, taking down, and moving things around at an efficient pace to keep the play running smoothly may be a challenging task for the tech team. The cast are playing older women so it might be difficult to grasp how older women act since they are teenagers in high school. In addition, the play being set back in 1989 could also prove difficult, as we are currently in 2025 so it may be harder to connect with the past since things have drastically changed. A hardship shown is Shelby’s struggle with severe diabetes. Following her life with her family, friends, and towns people while dealing with her sickness throughout the story. Eventually leading to her death after her kidneys fail.
Steel Magnolias can connect to the audience’s own experiences of love, loss, and friendships. For women they will be able to connect to play with the main theme being about being together. For example, the two oldest women Clairee and Ouiser attended each other’s weddings. Showing their strong connections and caring for one another. Relating back to teens and their connection the bond between women sympathy and empathy. Also, giving us examples of some life lessons the view could get from this play. Mrs. Bullis tells us she feels like since it is her last years she feels it in her heart to do this play. To make it special, it’s a big deal to do two shows on the same night, hoping everyone will come out with their families and support the shows.
The Great Gatsby is a famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerlad. The cast for this role being Nathaneal Maniatis (the lead role of Gatsby), Trent LeBlanc (Nick), Collin Barberry (Tom), Timmy Phelan (Wilson), Ryan Rainieri (Daisy), Maddie Nitsch (Jordan), Minah Ayyad (Myrtle), Gabe Mahnke (Wolfsheim), Jake Holmes (Mr. Mckee/Policeman), Caidence Delp (Mrs. Mckee), Sophie Greene, Jillian Daigle, Alaina Yarborough, and Oddette Morch (the dancers).
The Great Gatsby follows a millionaire named Jay Gatsby and his obsessive pursuit of gaining back his former lover Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy socialite. This play represents the American Dream since he chases money because he thinks it will win the love of daisy. But the way he gets the money is a huge turn off for Daisy. What makes this play unique is the way F. Scott Fitzgerlad wrote this novel. The scene would be changing while another scene is going on making the play more dramatic and interesting to watch.
Mrs. Bullis says she would recommend this play to students and their friends, to show support for the hardworking cast, and show itself. And anyone familiar with the book will be pleased to see it live and the way the students perform it. In conclusion, I would love to see what kind of attention these shows will bring to our school. And how many familiar faces I see in the audience. Updates about ticket sales will be announced soon, so be sure to grab one once they do! Come out and support your peers by encouraging your friends to buy one too!
