by Ronnie Claire Edwards
and Leslie Jordan

Synopsis

 

The Last of the Honky Tonk Angels is a highly theatrical musical, both touching and hilarious. A ghost story set in an abandoned theatre, the play takes place on an empty stage where preparations are being made to demolish this historical site.

Ghosts of past star performers materialize from out of the wings, on the catwalk, and in the orchestra pit. The Yodeling orphan, The Honky-Tonk Angel, Pee-Wee Sparks - The One-Man Band, The Singing Cowboy, and The Joyful Jaggers Gospel Group are some of the characters who appear to tell their stories, sing their songs, and plead for the survival of the theatre.

Photos by Susan Lanier

The score consists of some of the best-loved country songs of all time - I'm Down to My Last Cigarette, Right or Wrong, Red River Valley, Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown, and many more.

 

Reviews

--"The Last of the Honky Tonk Angels at the Los Angeles Globe Playhouse" This is a country music version of Sondheim's Follies in which an old theatre - grand old opry house is more like it - its disused stage crowded with a colorful jumble of props and theatre memorabilia, awaits the wrecking ball. The prodigal son who inherited the place stumbles on in the dark to look it over and confirm its demise. Suddenly performers of the past pop up from windows and balconies, shadows in the wings, a trapdoor in the floor, to sing, dance, and plead for the survival of their beloved theatre. These are wonderfully alive ghosts, if such they be. Co-written by Ronnie Claire Edwards and Leslie Jordan ... Prepare for surprises. ... Not at all sophisticated, slick, trendy, or topical, Honky Tonk Angels is down-home heartland, grass roots, vaudeville-palace old-time Americana, clean and 99 percent Country & Western music. Polly Warfield, www.backstage.com --"Angels in Honky Tonk heaven" In the morning, a wrecking ball will lay waste to an old opry house. Its ghosts, soon to be homeless, are restless. ... fascinating re-creation of the yodeling, guitar picking and gospel singing of the country-western past, ... Traditional cowboy, blue-grass, zydeco and gospel tunes are presented ... quite fun ... Los Angeles Times