Honky Tonk Angels’ about sisterhood

It’s the classic country-western song — woman loves a man, lives in a double-wide, has six kids, man treats woman badly and woman runs away to Nashville to be a star.

Or, a woman grows up in poverty, mother dies, she takes care of her father but longs to be a singer.

Or, a twice-divorced business woman from a small Texas town can’t get over her high school sweetheart.

The story of Angela, Darlene and Sue Ellen play out in song after song during the Southeast Alabama Community Theatre’s production of “The Honky Tonk Angels” May 5 through May 9. The play was written by Ted Swindley, who also wrote “Always, Patsy Cline.”

“Honky Tonk Angels” centers on three women from different backgrounds who end up on the same Greyhound bus bound for Nashville. They band together to become a hit country music trio. Along the way, they belt out 28 to 30 classic country songs made popular by female singers like Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn.

The play’s costumes start out simple enough in Act I. By Act II, the audience can expect some glam, sparkly gowns and very big hair — at least one beehive wig is a couple feet tall.

But the three women in the lead roles said the play is about more than big hair and country songs.

“It has a lot to do with sisterhood and growing together as women,” said Amy Scott, who plays Darlene.

Scott is joined on stage by Jennifer Doherty as Angela and Kendell Shows as Sue Ellen. A group of four musicians — Bob Allen, Richard Burke, David Morris and Ronnie Waller — provide the music.

“It’s less about the honky tonk and more about the angels we discover in each other’s personalities,” Doherty said.

Scott, who grew up singing in her family’s music ministry, plays the youngest of the trio. Darlene is a shy, innocent girl who grew up poor, lost her mother and had to take care of her daddy. As Angela, Doherty is a Texas housewife and stay-at-home mom who tires of her husband’s ways. Sue Ellen, played by Shows, is the blunt but flirtatious business woman who moved from Texas to Los Angeles.

“I have a lifelong dream of singing Dolly Parton tunes to an audience,” Shows said.

All three have been in previous SEACT productions, but they really didn’t know each other that well. That has changed during the rehearsals for “Honky Tonk Angels.”

“I’m in awe of them; I really am,” said Doherty, last seen as Glinda the Good Witch in “The Wizard of Oz.”

Shows said the play was more demanding than she expected. Memorizing lyrics, learning entrance and exit cues, costume changes, singing and dancing took a lot of energy, she said.

“And then they throw you on some roller skates and throw in a baton,” Shows said.

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If you go ...
What: Ted Swindley’s “The Honky Tonk Angels”
Who: Southeast Alabama Community Theatre
When: May 5-9, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cultural Arts Center, 909 S. St. Andrews St., downtown Dothan
Cost: Tickets are $22 for adults; $20 for students
Info: Call 794-0400 or visit http://www.seact.com