Trio brings ‘Honky Tonk Angels’ back to Sierra Rep

The simple joy of classic country returns to Sierra Repertory Theatre with “Honky Tonk Angels.”

The foothills company is reprising the musical about three women with dreams of country music stardom. The show was last staged in 2004 and its popularity then was one of the reasons Sierra Rep Artistic Director Scott Viets brought it back this season.

“Over the years, when we look back at shows that were extremely popular, ‘Honky Tonk Angels’ was one of those sleeper hits,” Viets said. “It was a brand-new show 11 years ago when we did it. It was a big hit; people just loved it.”

Viets is returning to direct the production, which he also helmed in 2004. Also joining him from that production will be Sierra Rep veteran Becky Saunders, who will reprise her role as Angela. Rounding out the cast are two other other company regulars, Cathy Shankelberg as Sue Ellen and Michelle Foletta as Darlene.

Shankelberg last was seen with SRT in the company’s 2014 season opener “Les Misérables” as the innkeeper’s wife, Madame Thénardier. Foletta has appeared in Sierra Rep productions of “The Tammy Wynette Story,” “Annie,” “Gypsy” and “Oklahoma!” over the years.

Foletta, who plays the youngest of the show’s three characters, was excited to work with her cast mates. The Los Angeles-based actress said the characters, and actresses, form a sisterhood. They portray women at different stages in their lives who all share a dream of singing country music.

“In the end, I think the three of us feel a really good bond and I hope it shows,” she said. “I think it is important we have good chemistry because it’s just the three of us up there. We kind of have to make it happen, just like the characters in the show work with each other and make it happen. I hope people leave having a good time with all these songs stuck in their head.”

Viets said unlike some other so-called “jukebox musicals,” which are musical revues that rely heavily on popular songs, “Honky Tonk Angels” also has a strong story.

“Sometimes these jukebox musicals or revues can get almost concertlike. They’re like, ‘Our story is so thin, so why bother?’ But there is a full book and story about these women’s journey,” Viets said. “When the songs are used, they are incorporated into the show. The character is singing the song within the context of the book. It’s not just stepping forward and singing a song for the sake of singing a song.”

The show features songs from country superstars including Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, Dolly Parton, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Reba McEntire. Its hit parade of classics includes “Stand by Your Man,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Delta Dawn,” “Harper Valley PTA” and some two dozen other songs.

Still, Shankelberg said the show should have something for non-country fans to enjoy, too. While the music anchors the story, the story also transcends the genre.

“The way the show is formatted, it pulls at the heartstrings, for sure,” Shankelberg said. “But it can go across any genre of music. The camaraderie between the three women is the heart. No matter what their background is, they’re all being guided by something higher and bigger than themselves. We all have guardian angels.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Trio brings ‘Honky Tonk Angels’ back to Sierra Rep."