Azusa Pacific University’s Department of Theater Arts presents timeless American classic Steel Magnolias. The show runs from March 19-28 with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m., as well as Saturday matinee shows at 2 p.m. The production takes place in the Warehouse Theater, located on APU’s West Campus (701 W. Foothill Blvd. in Azusa). Free parking is available. General admission tickets cost $23, with discounted tickets for senior citizens, children, students, and alumni. For tickets, call the Felix Event Center Box Office at (626) 815-5494 or order them online. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended.
Written by Robert Harling, this beloved comedy-drama invites audiences into Chinquapin, Louisiana, for a masterclass in sharp wit, southern charm, and the enduring power of female friendship. Brimming with laugh-out-loud banter and warmhearted humor, the play follows six extraordinary women who navigate the highs and lows of life from the safety of Truvy’s Beauty Salon. When an unexpected brush with mortality shakes the group to its core, they discover a quiet, enduring strength that proves they are as delicate as magnolia, but as tough as steel. Leading this production is Jill Lincoln, MA, chair of APU’s Department of Theater Arts, who brings a rare, deeply personal history to the director’s chair.
“This production is a profound full-circle moment for me,” Lincoln said. “My professional journey began at The Alley Theatre—the first regional venue to stage Steel Magnolias following its Broadway debut—where I had the honor of playing Shelby. During that run, I had the privilege of meeting playwright Robert Harling, whose real-life experience losing his sister inspired this story. Having grown up with a younger sister who also navigates juvenile diabetes, this play has always been more than just a script to me; it is a deeply personal tribute to resilience, the bonds of family, and God's hope.”
The Department of Theater Arts’ 2025–26 season concludes with Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World from April 9-11. The department is nationally recognized for its BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen and is dedicated to producing exceptional theatrical experiences through rigorous training and innovative programming. The Department of Theater Arts prepares outstanding, innovative, and influential artists in an ever-growing and multi-faceted performing arts profession.
Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world for Christ. Featuring world-class faculty, an APU education leads to lifelong transformation and eternal impact. APU offers 59 bachelor’s degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs to more than 7,000 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.