Directed By Matthew Quinn
Produced By Robyn Workman
A first play which met with immediate critical and popular acceptance in its premier production by New York’s WPA Theatre. Concerned with a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters. “Harling has given his women sharp, funny dialogue…The play builds to a conclusion that is deeply moving.” —NY Daily News. “…a skillfully crafted, lovingly evoked picture of eccentricity in the small-town South…Robert Harling is a new voice in the theatre and the qualities of STEEL MAGNOLIAS suggest he may be an important one.” —Drama-Logue. “…suffused with humor and tinged with tragedy.” —NY Post.
The Program
The Cast
Director's Note
There is something special to be said about a group of actresses who work hard, who are willing to
adapt to a director's vision, and whose instincts are not forced. These talented performers embody the essence of what it takes to portray each of their characters with love and laughter. Yet as compelling as each of them perform, individually they are equally effective as a whole in bringing the story to life thru compassion, dignity and
true artistry. What more could a director ask for.
Matthew Quinn
IF YOU'RE ENJOYING OUR PROGRAM, PLEASE MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION. SPARKLE ON STAGE IS A 501C3 NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION. WE ACCEPT CHECKS, CASH, VENMO, PAYPAL, CREDIT CARDS. WWW.SPARKLEONSTAGE.ORG
The Cast
Amy Connor
AMY CONNOR (Ouiser) is excited to make her debut at Sparkle stage. Some of her favorite past performances include Oliver (Nancy), Hamlet (Gertrude), Sweet Charity (Charity), Curtains (Georgia), 1776 (John Hancock), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Damn Yankees (Lola), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom), and A Chorus Line (Cassie). Off the stage Amy serves on the Board of the Northport Arts Coalition, volunteers with Northport PrideFest, and supports her local library. She is an avid reader, a life-long crossword puzzler, a dedicated yogi, and a new mahjong player! After retiring this past June from her position as the Director of the Mount Sinai High School Drama Program, she’s looking forward to spending more time with her husband Gene and is excited about all their travel plans! Look out for updates from Niagara Falls, Fire Island, New Orleans, a European river cruise, and visits with their three grown children in Knoxville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Allie George
Allie is beyond excited to be a part of Steel Magnolias! Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Allie graduated in May from LIU Post with her BFA in Musical Theatre. Favorite recent credits include Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain at Hackmatack Playhouse, Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher at LIU Post, and Hailey Goz in Feels Like the First Time: the FOREIGNER Musical (World Premiere) at the Tilles New Works Initiative. She would like to thank the entire team for all their hard work, her mentors for their invaluable guidance, and her wonderful support system for always picking up her calls! An extra special shoutout to her favorites: Mom, Dad, Andy, Libby, Ollie, and Justin. @alliekgeorge | alliegeorge.com
Jenna Halvorsen
Jenna is so excited to be a part of such a beautiful production. She has been in multiple productions including Beautiful (Cynthia Weil), Alice By Heart (Alice Spencer), and Mamma Mia! (Sophie). Jenna is a music teacher for Nursery to 8th grade at St. Mary’s Elementary School. She also teaches private lessons for instruments including voice, guitar, ukulele, and piano. Jenna would like to thank her mom for all of her support and running her lines with her endlessly and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Yelena Mirsakova
Yelena Mirsakova is thrilled to join Sparkle on Stage as Truvy in Steel Magnolias. Truvy was famously portrayed by Dolly Parton in the beloved film adaptation, making it an especially meaningful honor for Yelena to step into this iconic role and pay tribute to Dolly’s unforgettable performance.
Yelena’s past credits include Ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar, a multitude of colorful ensemble characters in The Wizard of Oz, a Wife in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kate in Oklahoma!, Ensemble/Manson Trio Dancer in Pippin, and a Mission Doll in Guys & Dolls. Outside of theater, she can often be found performing and competing in ballroom dance. Yelena is grateful to be part of this wonderful cast and looks forward to sharing this timeless story with you all.
Carol Spallone-Smith
Carol is excited to be performing as M’Lynn, in her favorite play! (Thank you Matt for this opportunity and for your creative directing!) 14 years ago she was seen as Oiuser in another production of this play. She has played many iconic roles in the past and has a few left on her bucket list, that she hopes one day to perform. Some of her previous roles onstage:
Eva Peron/EVITA; Maria/WEST SIDE STORY;
Dorothy Brock/42ND ST; Baker’s Wife/INTO THE WOODS; Irene Molloy/HELLO DOLLY; Julie Jordan/CAROUSEL; Rosie/BIRDIE; Gloria/DAMN YANKEES; Sarah Brown/GUYS & DOLLS; Lady Thiang/KING & I; Keely/PETE N KEELY; Sister Robert Anne/NUNSENSE; Aldonza/LAMANCHA; Joan/DAMES AT SEA; Carmen/CURTAINS
She has also appeared in many comedies & dramas, including Flo/ODD COUPLE (female version), Jessie May in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL.
Carol has also directed productions of Anything Goes, Bye Bye Birdie, Into the Woods, Thoroughly Modern Millie & Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Carol’s offstage roles: wife, mom of 5 and grandma of 10. Enjoy the show!!
Debi Toni
Debi Toni is thrilled to be on the Sparkle Stage with these wonderful woman in the amazing & empowering roles of Steel Magnolias!! Her journey began at James Street Players in Babylon as Tessie Tura in Gypsy with Susan Neal! Then Debi went off to professionally work regional theatres throughout Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Arkansas, Connecticut and Missouri in many sing & dance musicals. To name a few: A Chorus Line, Nunsense, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Cabaret, As the World Goes Round and Grease where she played Jan all four times. At Genetti Dinner Playhouse, DT starred as Frosty the Snowman and as herself, on accordion! She has also done some comedy such as Gwendolyn Pidgeon in Odd Couple Male Version, Penelope in You Can't Take It With You, And her favorite role Cookie in Rumors with Matt Quinn, Director.
This is her first role in a dramady since college at Adelphi University where she won first place in both the film and TV categories for Stephanie's Dream by Suzanne Luna and Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy. After a great career Toni returned to college at 35 to 45 to obtain both her Bachelors and Masters in Music Education while teaching part time in the schools and running Debi Toni Music Studios. DT sang & played for many years: accordion, piano, sax and clarinet. So teaching these plus many more instruments, audition preparation, monologues and NYSSMA came naturally to students from ages 3 to 85.
She created a program for adults called Singing for Dreamers and wrote a book series for her piano course Piano for Dreamers. She also writes children's songs and had 4 of them illustrated into beautiful books called the Dreamers Series. During COVID, Ms. Toni did countless productions on Zoom and honed her acting skills working with Parker Sterling and Cindi Sansone-Braff who is the author of Beethoven: The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Ms. Toni arranged music sung by a 100 piece choir for 8 members and also wrote and performed a poem put to his music. It was a journey!!! She is also the narrator of CIndi's Amazon Audio Book on Amazon: Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic! Check it out!
https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Reluctant-Long-Island-Psychic
DT has returned to performing in the past few years and her shows opened in NYC cabarets. She has made appearances at 54 Below, Green Room 42, Don't Tell Mama, The Triad Theatre & The Metropolitan Room. Her Show Double Trouble was recently nominated for a Manhattan Association of Cabarets Award. This summer she competed until the Semi Finals in Mama's Next Big Act Competition.
Her show Naughty 'n' Nice recently debuted at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on her recent birthday of July 25th. Currently Ms. Toni is working on her first Jazz Album "Just Soul" to be released in 2027 as well as 3 other albums in production. DT can be found on Fridays teaching at Patchogue Family Center & Sat/Sun at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Cantoring on the altar. What's next? Debi Toni and the Long Island Carolers will be spreading the Christmas joy to Long Islanders in whatever venue they choose. Feel free to reach out at debitoni@aol.com or 631-226-8413.
YouTube: debitonimusicstudios6565
Instagram debitoni09
Matthew Quinn
Matthew Quinn (Director). Credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, Mamma Mia, Pippin, Annie Get Your Gun, 9 to 5, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell; original work as a Director, Martin’s Decision, Breakfast Dishes, Oh So Devine, and Rainbow Christmas Carol. Choreography credits include Carousel, Fame, Aida, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Oliver!, The Wiz, Pippin, Peter Pan, Damn Yankees, and Jekyll and Hyde. Matt has also produced, directed, and choreographed original cabarets and revue shows: MisCast Cabaret, Spring Fling, Café, Cabaret.. Performance credits: Crazy for You (Bobby), 42nd Street (Billy), Cats (Munkustrap), Sweet Charity (Charlie), West Side Story (Bernardo), A Chorus Line (Bobby), Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), The Secret Garden (Albert), Footloose (Chuck). “Theater for many of us is an outlet to escape from our everyday norm to be a part of something that gives us joy, a sense of discipline and self worth, and an extended family. I have had the privilege of working with so many amazing talents over the years and it’s from these individuals I learned more than we could ever learn in a classroom.”
Stefanie Jade Workman
Stefanie Jade Workman (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Designer & Supervisor) is a licensed cosmetologist, wig artist, and theatre performer with a love for character-driven design. She brings her experience behind the chair and onstage to each production, creating looks that help tell the story. Stefanie Jade is currently pursuing an MA in Theatre at Hunter College and is delighted to be part of Steel Magnolias. She would like to extend a special thank you to her apprentice Emily Ertz for her hard work and dedication.
Robyn Workman
Robyn Workman is a lifelong Freeport resident and has contributed to the community in many capacities over the years. She studied voice and piano from an early age and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts cum laude from Long Island University.
Her career as a performer, educator, and director has spanned over 30 years. She contributed to the John W. Dodd Drama Club as a producer and director. In 2006, Robyn created and continues to produce and direct the Broadway and You theatre program at the Freeport Recreation Center which rehearses and performs at Sparkle on Stage.
Robyn has worked as the Drama Teacher/Director and Choir Director at Head Injury Association, which serves adults with traumatic brain injuries. Robyn also is a private teacher of voice, piano and NYSSMA prep.
Ms Workman is a Director on the Freeport Chamber of Commerce, and recently was named vice president on the South Shore Theatricals Board of Directors.
In June of 2022, Mrs. Workman opened Sparkle on Stage, Inc. Cultural Arts Center, a 501c3 non-profit organization, which is a place to create and experience meaningful artistic expressions through the visual and performing arts. The purpose is to enrich, empower, and entertain our community by providing a home for the cultural arts.