The 25th Anniversary Of Steel Magnolias! Meeting The AMAZING Elizabeth Perkins FINALLY! Celia Fucking Hodes!!!! Along With Francis Conroy! Annie Potts! Judith Ivy!

This was a day I have waited weeks for! And I can’t think of a better time to share it than my birthday!

The Lovely Erica sent me this information and since that day, It’s been highlighting on my calendar! You see, one of my favorite actresses of all time from one of my favorite shows of all time was FINALLY out and about! I could only be talking about Ms. Elizabeth Perkins!

YES! Celia Hodes! Live in person! And she is performing in one of my favorite plays… Steel Magnolias! Man oh man… I had to go! Thankfully, my friend Liz was coaxed into going with me! (thanks again Liz!)

I was fortunate enough to score a couple tickets to the show from a friend of mine which was pretty awesome because I wanted to see it really badly. Whoo Hoo! So, after a lovely dinner at Norm’s, Liz and I headed to the theatre. One of the awesome things about hanging with people in this hobby like Liz, is that you can talk about Fanboy stuff but also regular life things, and honestly having that balance is really important. It’s something I totally appreciate it!

The play stars not only Elizabeth, but Francis Conroy, Annie Potts, and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s directed by Judith Ivy who was in Designing Woman season 7 with Annie Potts.

Now the thing with play readings is that you have a group of people sitting onstage just basically… well… reading the play. I don’t LOVE play readings as a rule, but Steel Magnolias lends itself very well to this environment. The play is set inside Truvy’s hair salon and only features the six main characters.

All the actresses were wonderful. Elizabeth Perkins brought something especially grounded to the role of M’Lynn I have not seen in the film or the play before. Annie Potts took Clairee to new heights and I thought Jennifer Coolidge brought out a ditzy sexiness in Truvy that I didn’t see before.

The play itself was as sharp as it has ever been. It’s slightly dated but not distractingly so. The one liners still zing like it’s the first time I’ve heard them.

After the play there was a reception, however I felt awkward carrying a bag full of Weeds memorabilia inside. Slightly obvious right? I do have Fanboy manners! LOL…

Liz was kind enough to keep me in check and not let me flip my shit. I have to tell you, I have wanted to meet Elizabeth Perkins for probably over a decade… I mean damn… Elizabeth Perkins is Celia Fucking Hodes for God sakes…

So, Liz and I watched the festivities and waited… I really wasn’t long and then… I spotted Elizabeth Perkins leaving… I think I started to run, but honestly the entire experience was kind of a blur. I pulled my Weeds poster out of my gab and Liz said, “Wait what do you need help with!” and I think I threw my bad on the ground and said something like, “I don’t know! Just grab something!” But again, at this point I lost it. Elizabeth signed something for another collector who was there, and I ran over with my Weeds poster.

Now.. Elizabeth Perkins was the nicest person ever…

Can I tell you the sweetest person.. I swear. Here I am fanning out.. Now, if you remember Billy talking about how I freaked out on Mary Louise Parker at the Savages premiere… Times that by oh… 20… I knew I was word vomiting… I knew it… and couldn’t stop. It just kept coming, I talked about He Said, She Said, and About Last Night… and Big… and Weeds and told Elizabeth how upset I was that Celia was gone after season 5… I’m sure Liz will be happy to recall my Fanboy Freak Out, but can I say that Elizabeth Perkins was so sweet through it all. She was “Honey, what’s your name?” I was like “Mike!” and she was like, “I’m Elizabeth!” and I’m like I know!!! Elizabeth’s husband was also very sweet and saw me fumbling with my camera and said, “Let me have the camera.” lol… He volunteered to take the photo for me. Liz found a few things I needed signed (the most important ones) and got them done for me.

Literally, I was a nut… A cute crazy nut but a nut nonetheless!

Elizabeth again was more than kind, she was a doll… She signed five things for me and would have done more if I had my druthers and brought them out. Lol…

After Elizabeth left, I thanked her, Liz thanked her and I flipped my shit again. In fact, Liz told me to sit down. LOL…

So I did…

Stoked is not a word I could even use to describe how awesome that experience was!

After I collected myself, Liz and I headed back into the party. I wanted to try for a photo with Francis Conroy. I know she’s not usually that nice… Cough, Cough… That’s an understatement… And if we are going to get a photo with her, this is the place!

In the party, Liz and I asked Francis if she would mind taking a photo with us, Francis said, “Sure! Let me take off my glasses so we can get a better photo!” I did a double take, and was like who is this!

Francis kindly took a photo with me

and then took a photo with Liz as well.

The cast was hanging out and took group photos (even though Elizabeth Perkins had to leave).

Liz really wanted to meet Designing Women star Annie Potts. So, we waited for her to finish a conversation and moved in.

Annie Potts was super nice! And kindly took a photo with Liz

and then while we were posing for a photo Judith Ivy happen by and I asked her to join us for the photo.

So, I got a photo with both of the Designing Women in the house!

I have to tell you this was one of the most special nights ever!

It’s so rare when you meet someone you’ve been a fan of for YEARS and they not only meet your expectations but exceed them!

I even got to see my long lost friends Dean and John who I haven’t seen in years!

And a special thanks to Liz because without her.. I know I wouldn’t have gotten half the stuff I had signed but she is awesome and kept me in check and made my day even more special!

I can’t even tell you what an awesome present this nice was!!!

Until next time kids…