Steel Magnolias - the inaugural production

February 15, 2025

Blog by Darren J. Butler, Artistic Director

On Sunday, February 16th, Steel Magnolias will present its final performance at 2:00 p.m.  If you're reading this blog before showtime, do  your best to make it to OWA and catch the final show. Over the last thirty-five  years, I've had the privilege of directing this play a few times.  This cast has surpassed all of my expectations! It has truly been a beautiful experience and a powerful way to open our new Playhouse.  I am especially grateful to all of you who came out to our inaugural production at OWA.  

Coming soon...STEEL MAGNOLIAS!

An interview with Artistic Director, Darren J. Butler about the upcoming production of Steel Magnolias, which opens January 30th and runs for 8 performances only.

November 12, 2024

Why did you choose Steel Magnolias to open your inaugural season? 

Darren Butler: People need to laugh. No, I’m not kidding. The world is in this place of division and negativity. Laughter is the best medicine. Going to the theatre is an experience. You have the opportunity to check out of everyday life and be immersed in another time and place. With Steel Magnolias, you are transported to Louisiana and into the lives of six incredible women who will make you laugh.

This isn’t your first time directing Steel Magnolias. How did you first come to know the play? Was it the movie?

Darren Butler: No, not at all. The play came first. It was written by Bob Harling based on his sister and her death. Stepping back in time here…it was the late 80’s. I was in New York City, and a friend of mine told me about the play and how funny it was. So, I went. Now, if I had known what the play was about, I might have skipped it. But, I am so glad I didn’t. Within the first few minutes, I knew this would be a play I would want to direct. I laughed so hard, and then when I left the theatre, I couldn’t stop thinking about the play.

Why?

Darren Butler: Well, I grew up in a small town in North Alabama. My mom would take my brother and I with her to the beauty shop, and I have very distinct memories of those ladies and the conversations. Today, it’s even more nostalgic as I read through the play.

Other than it being funny, what draws you into it?

Darren Butler: The relationships. Great writing - to me - is about relationships and their ups and downs. Bob Harling’s script does that amazingly well.

The play, unlike the movie, is just the six women, correct?

Darren Butler: That’s right. The entire play takes place in the beauty shop with the six women. Now, I love the movie. Definitely in my top 20 of all time favorites, but the play needs to be just the six women and the one location. The beauty shop is really like a 7th character in the show.

It's a chick flick. Do you think you’ll see a lot of men in the audience?

Darren Butler: I hope so! It’s the perfect date night outing. And, I know people call it a chick flick, but I don’t think it is - at least not the play. Again, this is a show about relationships. Human interactions. Their lives. Their hopes. Their dreams. Their fears. It deals with life and death in this incredibly way. For men, I think - like me - it will remind you of your mom, sisters, cousins, grandmothers, aunts, and any other women in your life. The beauty shop is a gathering place - the moments of their lives are where the story lies. 

Tell us about The Playhouse for The Gulf Coast Rep?

Darren Butler: The Playhouse will be located in Foley, Alabama. We will seat 250 people, so it’s a very intimate space. You’ll feel like you’re a part of the play. My goal is to immerse the audience in the experience of live theatre.

And the exact location?

Darren Butler: Soon,  you’ll know. We want to do this grand announcement right before Christmas and then a ribbon cutting after the first of the year. All I will say is that you’ll be close to great restaurants, great parking, and a fun experience overall. 

Why the limited run?

Darren Butler: (laughing) I want you begging for more.

Interview with our Artistic Director

Recently, we conducted an interview with Artistic Director, Darren J. Butler, about the launching of The Gulf Coast Rep.

Where did the idea come from to start The Gulf Coast Rep?

Actually, it's the Gulf Coast Rep and Arts & Education Alliance. All of those components of our name are important because I believe they speak to our identity of who we are as an organization. The idea was conceived about a year ago. I had just finished an industry reading of our musical in development, Runaway Home. The conversations led to "What's next?" for the project. Unfortunately, the regional theatres we wanted to place the show with were all booked...booked for quite a while actually. I spoke up and explained my vision for a professional theatre company on the Gulf Coast. From that point, one thing led to another and here we are.

What was the tipping point for you to move forward with the plan?

I would say that many things did that for me, but I guess the most vital points were the fact that our programming would center around new work. Original plays and musicals in development. The fact that we could do everything from staged readings to developmental workshops or even world premieres...that was attractive. Of course, when the committee agreed that we needed to do all we could to help all of the arts organizations from Mobile to Pensacola - I loved that part of it. And finally, the education component. I started my professional career running a professional children's theatre company that traveled to schools across the southern United States. 

Why stay in Alabama and do this?

Why not? I was born and raised in Alabama. There have been multiple opportunities to go to New York or LA or elsewhere to work, but I keep coming back to the heritage of this state. Look back over the years at the number of great artists and writers who have come out of our state. Look back at the history - good and bad - that has played a role. I guess one of the biggest things for me is public service. I've worked for nonprofits pretty much my whole career in the arts. I believe in the Arts - all of them, but especially theatre where we have the opportunity to tell powerful stories that start conversations. And, I get to create something powerful here on the Gulf Coast that has some of the amazing beaches in the world. 

Where will the shows be?

Well...that's a well kept secret right now. There will be a reveal before the end of the year - that's all I will say. However, I will say that our dinner theatre show - Mama's Revenge! will be at Magnolia Hall, which is located between Lunas and Buzzcatz in Orange Beach. 

Talk a little more about the "alliance" aspect for us -

Sure. To me, the alliance is simple. It's our community, right? All of the arts organizations along the Gulf Coast should be talking to one another. I don't believe in competition amongst groups. I feel that we are all here for a similar purpose - to serve our communities with presenting the arts in all forms. On our end, we want to do an annual gathering to talk about the ups and downs of running our organizations. Talk about the seasons we want to present. I'd like to bring in some experts on grant writing and other areas of need to help anyone that needs it. We have no intention of acting as a governing body; just an organizer if you will to collectively get artists together to talk and really celebrate each other. 

We love the Community tab on your website. I'm assuming that's your first foot forward on the alliance side of things?

Absolutely. We've listed every arts organization that we are aware of. The listing has the name of their organization with a link to their website. We want that to grow to include a calendar of everyone's events. My thought is this - I want people - whether they are members of our community or tourists coming to the coast - to see what a rich arts scene we have here. And, if they want to see a show while they are here, they have all the information in one place. 

Will there be classes at The Gulf Coast Rep?

Absolutely. By the summer of 2025 and/or fall of 2025, we will have a variety of classes in the arts. Acting classes for youth and adults as well as other areas of interest. 

As for the education side of things, we've heard that you plan on touring to schools?

Right. Going to head back to my roots on that one. By the fall of 2025, we will launch a Young Audience Series here at The Playhouse for school groups to bus into for a performance during the school day. And, we will have a couple of shows that will tour to schools or other theatres. 

What kind of shows?

We have a committee that will be choosing the productions based on the needs of schools. We want to pick shows that will enhance what they're learning in the classroom. I will say this, one of the shows will be Helen Keller IS REAL!, it's a two person show that addresses this insane lie that Helen Keller and the miracle at the pump was fake. On a bigger picture it truly helps teacher and students to start the conversations about what sources out there are reliable and those that are not. 

How will you pick the shows for each season?

We have an Advisory Council which is made up of colleagues from around the country in the entertainment industry. A committe on that council will work with me to develop a slate of shows for full production, readings, and workshops. That will be presented to our Board of Directors for approval.

As for new work, we will work with agented writers and non-agented writers. In the coming months, there will be a "Submissions" page added to the website, and that will have all the information on how to submit work to be considered. 

Tell us about the season. I see that Runaway Home is on the season as a world premiere?

Yeah, it's going to be a short, inaugural season. Of course, we don't reveal all the shows until November, but the first one is really kind of like a love letter to the community. It's a show that everyone knows and loves. I saw it Off-Broadway a long time ago, and I knew immediately that I had to do it when it was released. I've done it several times in the past, and it's just one of my favorite pieces. Runaway Home is ready to be put on its feet. A full-scale production that will allow us to tinker with the script, lyrics, and music in a fully staged show. The reading last fall was incredible, but this show needs to be fully realized to gauge the true impact on an audience. After Runaway Home is a new play that it's truly phenomenal. I saw it at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival a while back and just loved it. It asks a lot of questions of all of us. Very powerful play. We're thrilled to put it on its feet again and see if we can't propel it to a commerical level. Next summer is all about families. As you know, we have a huge population of tourists who come to the Gulf Coast for vacationing. The musical we have planned is super fun! Great for the entire family to spend an evening out at the theatre and take a break from the sun and sand. 

You mentioned shows moving onto a commerical path. Elaborate on that if you will.

Right. That's a huge part of our mission. We want to shepherd new plays and musicals on many different developmental levels. At any point in the process, you have to get the right people in the room to see who has an interest in moving it forward. Take Runaway Home for example. After the producton here, we will do another reading in New York for investors to raise the necessary capital to move it to a commerical venue.

Broadway?

Who knows. Many productions are heading to London for a first commerical run. They have great incentives for new work, and that makes it financially very attractive. 

So, your goal is to get producers in the room?

Of course. Producers and investors who see a future for a show. This is literally how it works. Take The Outsiders for example. Before it made its Broadway debut, it was at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego for its world premiere. La Jolla Playhouse is one of the oldest and most respected nonprofit regional theatres in the country. As a nonprofit organization, our mission is to cultivate new work, new writers, new composers and give them a shot at seeing their vision realized. Some projects will get picked up, and some won't. It's all part of the process.