Meet the Director of ‘Steel Magnolias’: Debbie Swann
Debbie Swann
“Shelby says it best when she says she “would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a life-time of nothing special.” To many, a play about women in a beauty shop would seem like two-hours of nothing special. But these women, their bond, and their journey is 120+ minutes of wonderful in the hands of the right storytellers.” -Debbie Swann
Debbie graduated from Kansas State University with a B.A. in Theatre and English. From there, she earned her Master’s in Theatre with a Directing emphasis from Texas State University. She has trained in England at The Shakespeare Center, The Academy of Dramatic Art and The Royal Shakespeare Company. Before moving to Colorado, she taught, designed and directed theatre at Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska. Some of her favorite directing credits include Rumors, A Funny Thing…Forum, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tartuffeand Godspell. Debbie joined the Theatre Department at Colorado State University in 2013 and teaches Shakespeare as well as Introduction to Theatre. In partnership with CSU and Kaiser Permanente, Debbie directed The Amazing Food Detective, which toured elementary schools around Northern Colorado. With OpenStage, Debbie directed Bright Ideas and appeared in Spring Awakening (OpenStage OPUS Award), the Henry-nominated Don’t Dress for Dinner and And Then There Were None. She will appear on stage again with the upcoming production of Avenue Q and looks forward to working with OpenStage for years to come.
Steel Magnolias
By Robert Harling | Directed by Debbie Swann
January 19- February 16
“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” – Clairee in Steel Magnolias
Honey. It’s the 1980s. And hairspray is flying at Truvy’s beauty shop where the motto is, “There is no such thing as natural beauty.” Over the buzz of blow dryers, six southern spitfires gather each week to gossip and support each other through thick and thin. From weddings to divorces and from babies to funerals, they weather every event in their lives together with grace, determination, and perfectly coiffed hair. Infused with heart and humor, Steel Magnolias is a touching story of love, loss, and enduring friendship.
Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre | 417 W. Magnolia
