They may not be quite as colorful as their counterparts from the acclaimed 1989 film, but the women behind the Theatre Guild of Buchanan County are “Steel Magnolias” in their own right with a fierce commitment to lifting up their community and providing an artistic outlet for its youth.

The term, which has been used to describe that rare mix of femininity and fortitude found in many Southern women, aptly describes this squad’s approach to getting the job done. In just eight years, they have transformed a small performing arts program housed in a local high school into an immersive theatrical experience for residents of all ages.

“We’re trying to offer a place to bring arts to the community and they have really embraced us, always stepping up to give us what we need,” said Jodi Reynolds, guild president.

Reynolds and her team get lots of calls about proposed donations for future productions and requests for volunteers never go unanswered. The board pitches in each season to help backstage and in the front of house while people from all walks of life step in to move chairs and assemble/take down sets. Husbands also “marry into” the program as they get drafted to work on each production.

It should come as no surprise that the August 2023 run of “Steel Magnolias” was one of their most popular shows to date with board member Dr. Dia Owens making her directorial debut. USDA Rural Development joined the crew that same year by providing a $188,000 Community Facilities Grant to help the team finish rehabilitating an old Coca-Cola warehouse into a new performing arts space for the group.

The building that would become the Community Arts Mainstage (CAM) had stood vacant for over a decade, so the transformation required some creativity and ingenuity. The ladies proved they were up to the task with unique solutions to the challenge of outfitting an industrial building as an entertainment venue.

One of their first projects after moving into the building was to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and provide restroom facilities for patrons. When the building’s location in a flood plain placed a temporary hold on construction of permanent lavatories, they forged ahead with a box trailer that has been so seamlessly incorporated into the design that some patrons may not realize they are stepping out of the building.

The creativity didn’t stop there though. Many of the furnishings came from a department store that had closed in their community. A former makeup counter has a new life as a concession stand, and other racks and retail furniture are being used backstage for dressing rooms and prop storage.

The guild will leverage RD funding to continue the phased renovation with improvements to outdoor spaces and the concession area and equipment purchases to organize the costume/dressing rooms and enhance the audience experience. New mobile risers, for example, will help the guild ensure there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Grant funds have also been used to procure a scissor lift for building sets and adjusting lights as well as purchase racks for costume storage. Recently installed cameras are providing extra security for the building to keep these assets well protected.

Youth continue to be a big focus of programing with field trips scheduled to allow more students to attend the April “Lion King Jr.” show and a “Finding Nemo” kids summer acting camp offered in June.

Parents and teachers have also caught the acting bug too as they watched children grow up in the program. Youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Appalachia have joined in to run lights and sound and the Ridgeview High School band teacher is serving as the CAM musical director.

“We’ve seen the kids gain so much confidence by participating in these productions,” said Reynolds. “Right after COVID, some of them were bused in looking absolutely terrified. They soon found that it was a fun place with several now traveling 45 minutes to an hour to get here. They love it that much!

“This program fills gaps for those who don’t want to participate in sports, and we want to create more opportunities for them. Parents have made comments about their children blossoming. Three have gone on to receive drama scholarships for their college studies.”

The guild also has big plans to transform the CAM into a welcoming community center that complements the theater. They have already hosted Buchanan County native Ryan O'Quinn’s “Bringing Back Christmas” movie premiere and various tribute band concerts. Now, they are outfitting a patio space for outdoor music programs, which will be marketed to tourists hiking and biking on nearby Spearhead Trails and camping at Breaks Interstate Park.

“With this amazing new space, we plan to expand and add even more facilities and events throughout the year,” said Secretary Jessica Savage. “What you have given us is so big and we appreciate it.”

“This is a small area with a lot of talent,” added Reynolds. “I may gripe and complain from time to time, but we all feel a sense of accomplishment after the hard work of bringing a show to the stage. When your audience is sad to see it end, you know you’ve done something right.”