“Magnolia or The House at the Head of the River” encore July 12-13 in Foley Play is look at the life of Lower Alabama teen in the mid-1930’s

“Magnolia or The House at the Head of the River” encore July 12-13 in Foley
Play is look at the life of Lower Alabama teen in the mid-1930’s

An encore production of “Magnolia or The House at the Head of the River” will be held at the Foley Civic Center July 12-13 at 7 p.m. each evening. Written and directed by Elberta native and Foley High School grad C. Stefan Morrisette, the play premiered at The South Baldwin Community Theatre in Gulf Shores this past March.
The play’s protagonist is an elderly woman who returns to her childhood home in Magnolia Springs to celebrate her birthday under the watchful eye of her granddaughter.
Terrell Cowen, now in her 90’s (present day) is a frail, yet independent and sassy woman. When she sees that the house she once loved is now a rundown bed and breakfast, her past comes alive and she begins to relive all the highs and lows of her life and the time she spent at the house at the head of the river. She shares her stories of love, heart break, and all the lessons she learned along the way.
Magnolia’s playwright, C. Stefan Morrisette, AKA Chase, was raised in Elberta, where he spent most of his childhood using his imagination to create characters and write stories about them. From there he developed an interest in live theatre.
After graduating from Foley High School, Chase attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, where he focused on musical theatre. He then added study in costume design, designing for Off-Broadway productions before going back to his first love, writing.
Inspired by a trip down the Magnolia River, and dramas from Fairhope’s own Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes & The Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood), Chase penned the first draft of Magnolia in 2010.
He has also collaborated on the indie musical, The Journey, which was performed in Boca Raton, Miami, the New Orleans Fringe Festival and was workshopped in New York. He now resides in Fairhope with his husband, musician Devon Morrisette, and their dogs.
The Foley Civic Center is located at 407 E Laurel Ave. (Hwy. 98). Tickets are available at Epic Lasering, located in Gulf Shores or online at eventbrite.com. Tickets are $15. For ticket info, call 251-923-6737. “Magnolia” is presented by Epic Lasering with Comprehensive Creatives.
Pictured: the Magnolia Cast; writer & director C. Stefan Morrisette, a graduate of Foley High; Cast: Ann Gaylor as Gran Tee, a 90+ sassy, frail, independent, stubborn woman; Kate Lewis as Caroline, Tee’s Grand-daughter from Chicago; Andy Burgess as Jason, the owner/operator of The Riverside Bed & Breakfast; Ali Livingston as Terrell, Gran Tee’s younger self; Clayton Mosley as Judd, A strapping farm boy and a romantic. Terrell’s true love; Ruth Mayo as Michelle Mickey, a tomboy, raised bya single father and Terrell’s wild, best friend; Alex Campbell as Nathan, whom Terrell is betrothed; Amber Rose Weaver as Mrs. Cowen; Dillon Broxson as Bobby, Judd’s best friends and Mickey’s beau.