As APU’s Department of Theater Arts prepares for the opening of their production of Steel Magnolias on Thursday, the value of sisterhood and growth through hardship has been on the minds of many of the current student actors and the alumni of past productions. The alumni of APU’s 1999 production of Steel Magnolias are attending the opening weekend of the show and are looking back on the memories they shared from their time on the stage.
APU’s Department of Theater Arts has grown immensely since the initial production of Steel Magnolias. “We were mainly student-run, making up the production, costume, set design, and cast,” said Gretchen Lee ’98. “Steel Magnolias was produced in the fifth year of the theater program, one of the first shows in the Warehouse Theater.” Students were in charge of building sets, directing shows, and doing their own hair and makeup. “We were doing something new and exciting on campus. It was probably the best part of my college experience, being involved in the theater at APU,” said Rachel Mikhail ’99. “It was where I made my friends, and how I found my passion. I am a theater teacher now, and my time at APU put me on my career path.”
The connection among the cast, new and old, is part of what makes Steel Magnolias such a unique show. “This cast is astounding. The five women that I have the pleasure of working with are a blessing. They are the hardest-working, most dedicated people that I have worked with. I am growing as an actor and a person because of them,” said Madysen Papke ’26. With a smaller cast and a story that focuses on friendship, a strong connection is necessary. “We were really able to get to know each other during the process. Gretchen had us all go up to her family cabin, and we stayed for the weekend, making memories and bonding together. When we got ready before shows, we would sing at the top of our lungs to The Chicks and share stories and laugh,” said Susie Mack ’01.
Steel Magnolias focuses on the power of female friendships and how they endure through all the difficult parts of life. “The bond between women and our friendships is one of the greatest gifts God has given us in terms of walking this earth together and surviving,” said Jill Brennan-Lincoln, MA, chair of the Department of Theater Arts. “As director, I’ve gotten to work on these connections, fleshing out the relationships between characters and working to bring the audience into the life we’ve created.” As the women in the show go through trials, they learn to lean on each other. The current cast worked for weeks to make sure that the journey the characters go on connected with the audience. “We started with table work, going through each scene slowly. We built the world of the show through backstory, character relationships, and intention,” said Rachel Presby ’26.
With a small cast, the two-hour show is a daunting challenge for these students to take on. They have learned to rely on their acting training and the guidance of their director to put on a fantastic show. “Working with Jill is such a privilege,” said Papke. “She has really helped us to grow through tough love. Her love and feedback, while difficult, show how much she has invested in us as actors.” Most of these actresses are seniors and preparing to take their final bows on the APU stage. “This is the perfect show,” said Presby.
Between Allie Chobanian and Mikhail, there is another special connection. “She was my middle school theater teacher,” said Chobanian. “Her passion for art, and making every student that she had feel seen and heard made me realize this is what I want to do. As I went on to high school and now in college, she is still my biggest cheerleader.” Mikhail was able to join the cast of Steel Magnolias in 1999, and now her student continues the legacy, playing Shelby in the upcoming production. “It is such a full circle moment,” said Mikhail. “I have been able to watch Allie grow for over 10 years, and now to have her join this show is amazing.”
At the core of this experience, both for the past and present casts, has been female
friendship that glorifies God. “My hope is that APU would continue to hold on to
the focus of loving Jesus,” said Mikhail.
As this cast prepares to open, they have reflected on the way that God has moved in their lives and this production. “This show has set the standard for me,” said Papke. ‘To be able to spend time with these other five passionate and impactful women has been such a blessing. I cannot imagine ending my time at APU any other way.”