SIDNEY — Sock & Buskin Players and Director Christi Thomas have announced auditions for their fall play “Steel Magnolias” will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, and Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Historic Sidney Theatre, 120 W. Poplar St., Sidney.

Thomas says they’re celebrating the movie’s 30th anniversary. It was released in November 1989. However, the stage play is a bit different than the movie. The play all takes place in a beauty shop in Chinquapin, Louisiana, with the six women as the main characters.

The characters are Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton in the movie), 40ish and owner of the beauty shop; Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (Daryl Hannah in the movie), 19-20 and Truvy’s assistant; Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis in the movie), 66ish and a widow; Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (Julia Roberts in the movie), 25 and the prettiest girl in town; M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field in the movie), 50ish and Shelby’s mother; and Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine in the movie) 66ish and a wealthy curmudgeon.

The play was originally presented in New York City in March 1987. Author Robert Harling based it on the real life experience of the death of his sister due to complications from Type 1 diabetes. He notes in the script that the women in this play are witty, intelligent, and above all, real characters.

Sock & Buskin originally performed this play in 1992 at the old Childrens’ Home and took an excerpt to the West OCTA Regional Festival and received acting awards for Vickie Blanford as Ouiser and Alyson Craver-Morris as Annelle.

Thomas notes those interested in auditioning should come with an idea of which character they fit and be prepared for a cold reading of the script. Anyone with questions may call her at 937-726-0755.

The show will be performed at the Sidney Theatre on Nov. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 and is partially sponsored by Special Effects Hair Studio and Panache Salon and Day Spa, both in Sidney.