Melissa Gilbert Takes to the Stage for `Steel Magnolias' at Totem Pole Playhouse

Melissa Gilbert joined the cast of Totem Pole's production of "Steel Magnolias." 

"Steel Magnolias" is a classic comedy by Robert Harling. It was made into a movie with Julia Roberts and Sally Field. Melissa Gilbert, who the world watched grow up on

"Little House on the Prairie" stars in the Totem Pole Playhouse production beginning tonight, May 30.

The movie "Steel Magnolias" was a huge hit in 1989. It was also transformed into a critically-acclaimed television special in 2012. Melissa Gilbert will play the M'Lynn, mother of the bride-to-be. M'Lynn was played by Sally Field in the film.

Gilbert is the first of several nationally-recognized performers who will appear in summer productions at Totem Pole Playhouse.

Melissa Gilbert isn't new to acting, having grown up on screen but she told a press conference  "I didn't study theatre. I didn't go to college for this." 

Gilbert started acting as a child. She made her on-air debut modeling baby clothes and acted in more than 30 television commercials at age 7After "Little House on the Prairie," she played Helen Keller on stage when she was 14. The show was in rehearsal for six weeks. The play was set to runfor several weeks, but was extended. 

The former child star says "My connection to 'Steel Magnolias" is substantial. I grew up with the movie - it's my go-to 'chick flick'. I was one of the women to audition forShelby for the film way back when - I don't know that I even got close. I may have been in the top twenty or top ten. But now I get to play the most extraordinary woman."

"I had to get the film out of my head," Gilbert says. "The rhythms of the words are jammed into my brain. But the film is so different from the play." It's also a uniquely Southern story, and accents are needed. "It's so southern." But it's specifically set in Louisiana, and "Louisiana is hard - we've had to work on a hybrid accent."

In 1973, nine-year-year old Melissa Gilbert joined the television cast of "Little House on the Prairie," starring Michael Landon. She stayed with the series for 10 years.

"I grew up with wonderful people," Gilbert remembers. "I learned professionalism from all of them and especially from Michael Landon. He taught me fine points about camera angles, set designs, costuming, production, direction and life."

"Steel Magnolias" is being directed by Skip Greer. Greer is the artist in residence and director of education at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, N.Y.

"It has six distinctive voices," Greer said. He says Gilbert is "an amazing fit."

Steel Magnolias opens tonight at a gala to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Central PA. The show will run through June 15.