Truvy Jones runs a successful beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies in the neighborhood have a standing Saturday appointment. Along with her anxious and eager assistant, Annelle, Truvy styles the hair of many of the women about town: wealthy widow and former first lady of Chinquapin, Clairee Belcher, local curmudgeon Ouiser Boudreaux ("I'm not crazy, I've just been in a bad mood for forty years”), intelligent and compassionate career woman M’Lynn, and her daughter Shelby, the prettiest girl in town. Shelby’s engagement is the talk of the town, but the joy and excitement of her wedding quickly turn to concern as she faces a risky pregnancy and a myriad of health complications. Eventually, when Shelby dies from complications related to her diabetes, M’Lynn has to deal with the most difficult of life’s challenges: the loss of one’s only child. As the women of Chinquapin makes their ways over life’s many hurdles together, they find comfort (and a fair amount of verbal ribbing) in one another. “You have no idea how wonderful you are,” M’Lynn tells the ladies at the end of the play. Truvy responds, with a smile, “Of course we do.”

The Alban Arts Center is a small arts organization in the heart of downtown St. Albans.  Located within the historic Alban Theater, originally built in 1938 as a movie house, the Alban Arts Center provides a wide array of artistic opportunities for St. Albans and the surrounding community within its intimate 225 seat theater.  Primarily focusing on the performing arts, the Alban produces 4-6 productions every year, in addition to hosting several other theatre companies and touring productions.  The Alban, as a small and energetic organization, can segue from large, family oriented casts to intimate and intense dramas in the course of their season; and even produces an annual Shakespeare in the Park at St. Albans City Park.  The Alban also hosts concerts, movies, and a variety of other performances throughout the year.

              In addition to producing and hosting theatrical productions the Alban Arts Center also houses the Alban Arts Academy, a twice yearly extra-curricular academy that has provided artistic education to the greater-metro area, since 2010.  Academy classes include Acting, Improv, Musical Theatre and much more.  All classes are taught by local artists, and over 1,000 students from 7 counties have traveled to St. Albans for their arts education needs.  Every spring and fall semester the Alban Arts Academy offers 15+ classes and awards scholarships to students that may need them.