Steel Magnolias Blooms on Stage in Sheboygan This December

Sheboygan Theatre Company is closing out the year with a big-hearted favorite. Steel Magnolias will take the stage December 5–13, 2025 at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre inside Horace Mann Middle School, 2820 Union Ave. in Sheboygan. With a small cast, a cozy beauty shop setting, and a story full of laughter and tears, it is the perfect winter night out for friends, families, and theatre lovers.

Set in Truvy’s salon in small-town Louisiana, Steel Magnolias follows a close-knit group of women as they swap stories, tease each other, navigate life’s surprises, and prove just how strong friendship can be. Between the sharp one liners and the deeply emotional moments, audiences can expect to laugh loudly, tear up more than once, and leave feeling like they have spent the evening with old friends.

This production is part of Sheboygan Theatre Company’s 92nd season, continuing a long tradition of community members bringing beloved stories to life. Executive Director Tricia Roberts describes the show as a tribute to women supporting women and a celebration of how community gets built one relationship at a time. That spirit runs through every scene, whether the characters are gossiping over hairspray or standing shoulder to shoulder through heartbreak.

Steel Magnolias is directed by New York based theatre artist Lauren Shields, whose resume includes directing regional productions, Off Broadway work, festivals, and academic theatre. Her past projects range from classics such as Assassins and Top Girls to new works such as Somerton Man: A True Crime Musical. With professional experience as a Director, Intimacy Coordinator, and Coach, Shields brings a thoughtful, actor focused approach that fits a story built on relationships and emotional honesty.

Shields was drawn to Sheboygan Theatre Company’s strong community roots and the chance to explore what Steel Magnolias says about women, identity, and strength. She sees the show as a reminder that femininity and toughness are not opposites at all, and that the same women who swap beauty tips and jokes are often the ones quietly holding families, friendships, and entire communities together.

The production features a cast of six local women, each bringing their own personality and life experience to the stage. Because the entire show takes place inside one salon, the audience is pulled right into the conversations and becomes part of the world. It is intimate, funny, and sometimes painfully real, exactly the kind of play that lingers long after the curtain call.

If you have only seen the movie, this is a great chance to experience Steel Magnolias the way it was originally meant to be seen: live in a theatre with a room full of people reacting together. If you are new to the story, be ready for big hair, quick wit, and some powerful reflections on love, loss, and what it means to show up for the people in your life.

Show dates and times:

Evening performances at 7:00 p.m.
December 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13

Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m.
December 7 and December 13 (ASL interpreted performance)

All performances take place at:
Leslie W. Johnson Theatre
Horace Mann Middle School
2820 Union Ave., Sheboygan

For tickets and more details about the cast, crew, and Sheboygan Theatre Company’s full season, visit stcshows.org or contact the Sheboygan Community Recreation Department box office at (920) 459-3773.

Founded in 1934, Sheboygan Theatre Company is a volunteer run, non profit community theatre that produces at least four main stage shows each year and partners closely with the Sheboygan Area School District Community Recreation Department. Supporting a show like Steel Magnolias means supporting local arts, local stories, and local talent.

Before you click away, we would love to hear from you. Share your favorite Steel Magnolias moments, tag a friend you want to see the show with, and jump into the comments below to keep the conversation going. If you are involved with a local event, performance, fundraiser, or community project in Sheboygan County, you can also send us your details, flyers, or press releases through our free Publicize form at https://sheboyganlife.com/publicize-your-sheboygan/ so we can help get the word out.