Some steel magnolias from within the local community are needed for a new play at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

Administrators at the center are seeking six women who can portray characters ages 17-65 for the popular stage play “Steel Magnolias,” based on the script by Robert Harling. Auditions are scheduled for Saturday.

The play focuses on six women who frequent Truvy’s beauty parlor in a small, fictional Louisiana town, and it captures the joys and trials of their lives.

“It’s the story of love and loss and friendship and redemption,” said Paul Lasakow, executive director of the Suffolk Center. “It’s hilarious, it’s poignant, and like everything that we’re trying to do here at the center, I think it’s very relevant to the community.”

Lasakow, who is in the middle of his second year as director of the center, said he chose “Steel Magnolias” in part because some of the characters reminded him of Suffolk residents.

“The characters in it remind me of people I’ve met here in Suffolk, in the most positive ways,” he said. “In that kind of setting, with the bonds that these women in the play represent, you really get to the heart of what it means to be a community.”

Lasakow said the center is striving to do more community theater this year to get more people into active roles in the arts. He added that the center is seeking actresses of diverse racial backgrounds for “Steel Magnolias.”

“We are really going for a diverse cast,” he said. “This is not necessarily a story of six women in any particular race or culture. The dynamics of the play will be better explored through an intercultural cast.”

Women who would like to audition can call 923-0003 to set up an audition time for Aug. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon. All who audition will be required to read from the script. Although not required, potential actresses also may prepare a reading of no more than three minutes, and they should bring a recent photograph. No acting experience is necessary.

For more information, visit www.suffolkcenter.org or call 923-0003.