Written by
Ted Sindley
www.stagerights.com
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS
Copyright © 2009 by Ted Swindley
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About The Author
For over twenty years, Ted Swindley has directed and produced over 200 plays. He is
internationally known for creating the hit musical Always…Patsy Cline, which opened in
New York in June 1997. It continues to play throughout the world. Some of his
outstanding directorial credits include World Premieres, Classics and Musicals including
Carnal Knowledge, Pacific Overtures, Follies and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and rotating
repertory projects, such as Havel's The Memorandum with Giradoux's The Mad Woman
of Chaillot, Thornton Wilder's Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth and Dangerous
Liaisons with The Importance of Being Ernest. His classical directing repertoire includes
Macbeth and The Tempest.
Mr. Swindley was named to Esquire magazine's register of Americans for Outstanding
Achievement in Arts and Letters and was featured in Southern Living magazine. He was
also the recipient of the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for Outstanding Direction and
nominated for the prestigious Los Angeles Critics Award for his work at the Pasadena
Playhouse. He won national attention for his direction of the world premiere of
Moonlight and Valentino by Ellen Simon (daughter of Neil Simon), which starred film
actresses Carlin Glynn (The Trip to Bountiful) and Mary Stuart Masterson (Some Kind of
Wonderful, Chances Are, Fried Green Tomatoes).
Mr. Swindley is the Founding Artistic Director of Stages Repertory Theatre, the second
largest theatre in Houston, Texas. There he implemented such diverse programming as
the Texas Playwrights Festival, for which he won national recognition in 1986 from The
Wall Street Journal and Backstage Magazine.
He has also guest directed for the Texas Shakespeare Festival, Off-Broadway’s Variety
Arts Theatre, Duke University, San Diego Repertory, Red Barn Theatre, Flatrock
Playhouse, Denver Theatre Center, Virginia Stage, Barter Theatre, Mill Mountain
Theatre, Ryman Auditorium and The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, to name a
few.
As Playwright and Author, Mr. Swindley has been commissioned to write several plays
that have played all over the U.S. and Canada. He also contributed material for several
comedy revues, which premiered at the Texas Playwrights Festival in Houston. Mr.
Swindley has served as dramaturge on numerous new plays that had their premiere at
Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. Premieres of six new musicals: The Honky Tonk
Angels, Bye, Bye Love: The Everly Brothers Musical, Step Into My Parlor, Summer of
’66, and Swingstep (which was nominated for the Dora Award in Canada), have been
produced in the last five years. He recently completed a new comedy …And The Pursuit
of Happiness, and a drama entitled Stories My Grandmother Told Me and a series of
children’s stories for the Christmas season. New works now available by Mr. Swindley
include Bachelor Pad, a musical of 60’s lounge tunes based on a short story by renowned
NY Times columnist William Safire; The Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular, a
seasonal musical revue-sequel to the popular Honky Tonk Angels; Love/Life, a
contemporary drama inspired by the classic 1890’s play La Ronde by Arthur Schnitzler;
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 2
August 2002
Santa’s Last Christmas, a short fantasy play about the ultimate demise of St. Nick and the
faith of a grown up believer.
He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston, a Master of Arts
from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University in Greenville,
SC. He has studied at the Lincoln Center Institute and the Institute of European Studies in
Vienna, Austria.
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 3
August 2002
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS
MUSIC PUBLISHING CREDITS
MUST BE PRINTED IN ALL PLAYBILLS AND PROGRAMS
Song Title Author(s)/Composer(s) Publishers
ACT I
Soldiers Joy Traditional
I'll Fly Away Traditional
Stand By Your Man Sherrill/Wynette EMI AI Gallico Music
Group
Coal Miner's Daughter Lynn Sunfire Music
9 to 5 Parton Velvet Apple Music/
Warner/Tamerlane-Fox
Ode To Billy Joe Gentry MCA
Don't Come Home a Drinkin' Lynn/Wells Sunfire Music
The Pill Lynn/Bayless/McHan Loretta Lynn Ent.
These Boots Are Made For L. Hazlewood Theory Music
Walking
I Will Always Love You Parton Velvet Apple Music
Soldiers Joy Traditional
Paradise Road Parton Velvet Apple Music
Delta Dawn Harvey/Collins EMI
Amazing Grace Traditional
Calling All Angels Stewart MCA
Time For Me To Fly Cronin Fate Music
I'll Fly Away Traditional
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 4
August 2002
Song Title Author(s)/Composer(s) Publishers
ACT II
I'll Fly Away (instrumental) Traditional
Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad Sherrill/Sutton EMI AI Gallico Music
Night Life Nelson/Breeland/Buskirk Sony/ATV/Tree Glad Music
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Miller Peer Int.
Tonk Angels
Cleopatra, Queen of Denial Weinstein Big Wedge Music
Harper Valley PTA Hall Warner/Chappell
Fancy Gentry MCA
Rocky Top F. Bryant/B. Bryant House of Bryant
Barroom Habits Kemp Sony/ATV/Tree
Cornell Crawford Oslin/Miller Arthur Aaron JPM
International
Almost Persuaded Sherrill/Sutton EMI AI Gallico Music
Sittin' On The Front Porch Swing Sheffield Unknown
Angels Among Us Hobbs/Goodman TBA
Amazing Grace Traditional
Will The Circle Be Unbroken? Traditional
Time For Me To Fly Cronin Fate Music
I'll Fly Away Traditional
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 5
August 2002
The Honky Tonk Angels
(Musical Numbers)
ACT I
Soldiers Joy........................................................................................ Band
I’ll Fly Away ..................................................................................... All
Stand by Your Man............................................................................ Angela
Coal Miner’s Daughter ...................................................................... Darlene
9 to 5 .................................................................................................. Sue Ellen
Ode to Billy Joe ................................................................................. Darlene
Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’ ........................................................... Angela
The Pill .............................................................................................. Angela
These Boots are Made for Walking ................................................... Sue Ellen
I Will Always Love You ................................................................... All
Soldiers Joy........................................................................................ Transition Music
Paradise Road .................................................................................... All
Delta Dawn ........................................................................................ All
Amazing Grace/Calling All Angels…. .............................................. All
Time for Me to Fly/I’ll Fly Away ..................................................... All
ACT II
I’ll Fly Away (instrumental) .............................................................. Band
Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad ...................................................... All
Night Life .......................................................................................... All
It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels ................................ All
Cleopatra, Queen of Denial ............................................................... Sue Ellen
Harper Valley PTA ............................................................................ Angela
Fancy ................................................................................................. Darlene
Rocky Top ......................................................................................... Sue Ellen, Darlene
Barroom Habits.................................................................................. Angela
Cornell Crawford ............................................................................... Sue Ellen
Almost Persuaded .............................................................................. Angela
Sittin’ on the Front Porch Swing ....................................................... All
Angels Among Us ....................................................................... Darlene (Angela and
Sue Ellen final choruses)
Amazing Grace/Will the Circle Be Unbroken? ................................. All
Time for Me to Fly/I’ll Fly Away (reprise) ....................................... All
Honky Tonk Angels (Play off) .......................................................... Band
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 6
August 2002
Please Note!!!
If there are any discrepancies
between the script and the
musical score, please always
follow the script and revise
the score to fit accordingly.
Any changes in the text must
be approved by the Author
prior to the opening of the
production.
Thank You,
Ted Swindley
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 7
August 2002
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS
A Musical Comedy in Two Acts
By
Ted Swindley
Characters
Angela A Texas housewife in her mid thirties. She has a great sense of
humor and a fiercely independent streak. She identifies with
“Roseanne,” an earth-mother comedienne.
Darlene A young woman from the deep South in her late teens to early
twenties. She is pretty, sweet and simple. A young woman who
grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and the
Mississippi Delta. She plays simple guitar. She also clogs (the
mountain version of “tap dancing”)
Sue Ellen A Los Angeles career woman in her thirties. She is a “citified”
country girl in her mid-thirties. Smart, very attractive, sexy and
frustrated she dances, roller skates and twirls baton (if possible).
She also clogs. She should be a great dancer.
Band There is preferably a six piece country band consisting of piano,
bass, drums, pedal steel guitar, fiddle and lead/rhythm guitar.
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 8
August 2002
The Honky Tonk Angels
ACT I
Setting
Stage left is an exterior area, perhaps delineated by patches of grass, a scraggly tree (old
tire, wash tub) a fence, a barn, and a stump for seating. This is Darlene’s home area. It is
important that this area can be lit distinctly and separately from the interior of the bus
area.
On center stage is an area representing the interior of a tacky double-wide trailer with lots
of “arts and crafts,” an iron and ironing board, and a cordless phone. This is Angela’s
home area. This area ideally should be struck during bus ride, but can remain onstage.
In contrast, on stage right is the interior representation of a sleek office in Los Angeles.
May be chrome and glass, desk with rolling chair, a telephone intercom, and computer.
This area, too, should be struck during the bus ride.
Later in the act, center stage is a platform representing the interior of a Greyhound Bus
with one row of faded seats. There is a storage area for props behind the seats. This is
the area for the ladies’ journey to Nashville. Bus seats may be disguised by draping
fabric over them during first part of the act.
The Band is upstage on a platform in full view of the audience.
Overture
The band plays “Soldiers Joy” an upbeat bluegrass tune. End of overture, stage fades to
black.
As the lights slowly come back up, we see the silhouettes of three women. They all wear
matching western-style fringed jackets with rhinestones. These jackets may be different
colors to complement the individual outfits or they can be all white to fit the angel motif
of the show. Underneath the jackets, Sue Ellen wears a sexy top, mini skirt and knee
high boots with substantially thick heels; Angela wears colorful leggings and loud
colored loose fitting blouse and cheap gold flats (the fancy Wal-Mart mother look);
Darlene wears a simple, sweet, house dress with no frills, no stockings and simple shoes
or denim overalls and checked shirt.
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 9
August 2002
Angela has teased red hair—big hair (but not as big as it will be in Act II). Sue Ellen has
a good looking blond subdued Dolly Parton-style. Darlene has mousy brown pigtails or
straight, unstyled long hair.
I’LL FLY AWAY
(The music starts at a slow tempo—a cappella. The three
women appear in silhouette).
ALL (Unison)
SOME GLAD MORNING
I’M A’ GONNA SOAR
I’LL FLY AWAY
I’LL SING MY SONG ON MUSIC CITY’S SHORE
AND I’LL FLY AWAY
ALL (continuing a cappella trio. Tempo builds gradually.
Lights begin to brighten).
I’LL FLY AWAY, OH GLORY
I’LL FLY AWAY
MY OH MY, HALLELUJAH BY AND BY
I’LL FLY AWAY
(Band joins. Song comes up to full, bright tempo).
ALL (Unison)
WHEN THE BLUES OF YESTERDAY HAVE GONE
I’LL FLY AWAY
LIKE A BIRD FROM PRISON BARS HAS FLOWN
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 10
August 2002
I’LL FLY AWAY
(Angela addresses audience. Sue Ellen and Darlene freeze.
Underscoring of “I’ll Fly Away” continues during Angela’s
speech).
ANGELA
(To audience—she is brash, fun and outspoken—she loves to
tell stories). Tonight is all about leavin’ and following your dreams. It’s also
about angels, all kinds of angels, but most importantly, Honky Tonk Angels. Hi. My
name is Angela, Angel-Uh—Get it! And, I am not an actress. I am an honest to God real
housewife from Waxahatchie, Texas and I have six kids, a wonderful mama, and my
husband’s name is—you guessed it—Bubba! He drives a beer truck—Lone Star beer, of
course. And, I’m the queen of this here double-wide trailer. Oh, and I do love to sing—
every chance I get—especially good old country songs. This is the story of how me and
two other gals became Honky Tonk Angels.
Lights come up on Darlene. She is snapping beans in a
bowl.
Over here is Darlene. She’s the sweetest, little country girl you’ll ever meet. She comes
from poor circumstances, but she’s got a heart of gold and a whole lot of courage to boot.
She lives with her daddy in the Mississippi delta and… she’s an Angel—bless her heart!
Lights come up on Sue Ellen. She is furiously filing
her fingernails.
Over there is Sue Ellen. She’s a career girl out in Los Angeles—City of Angels—
California. But underneath all that plastic, she’s all country, if you know what I mean.
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 11
August 2002
And she has a “boss,” if you know what I mean… (shocked)—and she’s been
divorced…twicet!
Oh, I don’t know these gals just yet, but I will. This is our story!
(Underscoring ends)
ALL (moving in a brisk, fun dance pattern)
JUST A FEW MORE WEARY HOURS
AND THEN I’LL FLY AWAY
TO A PLACE WHERE THE SONGS WILL NEVER END
I’LL FLY AWAY
ALL (a cappella—clapping)
I’LL FLY AWAY, OH GLORY
I’LL FLY AWAY
MY OH MY, HALLELUJAH BY AND BY
I’LL FLY AWAY
(Key change to a big gospel finish)
ALL
I’LL FLY AWAY, OH GLORY
I’LL FLY AWAY
MY OH MY, HALLELUJAH BY AND BY
I’LL FLY AWAY
MY OH MY, HALLELUJAH BY AND BY
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 12
August 2002
I’LL FLY AWA-AA-AY!
(Darlene and Sue Ellen exit. Lights come up on
Angela’s trailer).
(SFX: Children screaming and laughing)
ANGELA (picks up XXXL boxer shorts from laundry basket, smells them and lovingly
folds them).
You kids behave! We’re leavin’ for your Mee-Maw’s in five minutes…
“Stand By Your Man” intro starts and Angela sings
plaintively while ironing her husband’s shirt in
rhythm to the song.
STAND BY YOUR MAN
SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO BE A WOMAN
GIVING ALL YOUR LOVE TO JUST ONE MAN
YOU’LL HAVE BAD TIMES,
AND HE’LL HAVE GOOD TIMES
DOING THINGS THAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
BUT IF YOU LOVE HIM,
YOU’LL FORGIVE HIM
EVEN THOUGH HE’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND,
AND IF YOU LOVE HIM,
BE PROUD OF HIM,
‘CAUSE AFTER ALL, (sarcastically) HE’S JUST A MAN
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 13
August 2002
She goes into audience gets a couple to stand,
instructs the woman to hug her man—then waltzes with
Bubba’s shirt.
STAND BY YOUR MAN
GIVE HIM TWO ARMS TO CLING TO
AND SOMETHING WARM TO COME TO
WHEN NIGHTS ARE COLD AND LONELY
STAND BY YOUR MAN
AND SHOW THE WORLD YOU LOVE HIM
KEEP GIVING ALL THE LOVE YOU CAN
STAND BY YOUR MAN
Phone rings. (She gets couple to sit down). Angela
answers; Music Underscores.
ANGELA
Excuse me…just a minute!
Hello...Oh, hey, baby! Yes, Bubba, it’s me, who’d you expect... Marilyn Monroe
(pronounced MUN’-ROE) (She laughs at her own joke).What? You
S.O.B....You promised to take me out tonight.. I’m ironing a shirt for you and the kids are
all ready to go to mama’s.. .Well, I have had it.. .Well, you have fun at your tractor pull
you... scum suckin’ redneck! you...
She hangs up. She sings angrily and begins scorching
the shirt, finally ripping the sleeves off.
ANGELA
STAND BY YOUR MAN
GIVE HIM TWO ARMS TO CLING TO
KEEP GIVING ALL THE LOVE YOU CAN
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 14
August 2002
STAND BY YOUR MAN
BULLCRAP!!!
End of song. Angela exits.
(Lights come up on Darlene. She sings “Coal Miner’s
Daughter” first as a slow ballad, then building to up-
tempo. Sounds of birds singing in the trees. She strums
simple guitar on opening, telling her story to the
audience).
Coal Miner’s Daughter
DARLENE
I WAS BORN A COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER
IN A CABIN ON A HILL IN APPLE HOLLER
WE WERE POOR, BUT WE HAD LOVE
THAT’S THE ONE THING THAT DADDY MADE SURE OF
HE SHOVELED COAL TO MAKE A POOR MAN’S DOLLAR
Key Change-tempo quickens. She puts the guitar down.
IN THE SUMMER TIME WE DIDN’T HAVE SHOES TO WEAR
BUT IN THE WINTERTIME WE’D ALL GET A BRAND NEW PAIR
FROM A MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE
MONEY MADE FROM SELLING A HOG
DADDY ALWAYS MANAGED TO GET THE MONEY SOMEWHERE
DADDY LOVED AND RAISED US KIDS
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 15
August 2002
ON MINER’S PAY
MAMA SCRUBBED OUR CLOTHES ON A
WASHBOARD EVERYDAY
WELL, I’VE SEEN HER FINGERS BLEED
TO COMPLAIN THERE WAS NO NEED
SHE’D SMILE IN MAMA’S UNDERSTANDIN’ WAY
Key Change-tempo quickens again.
YEAH, I’M PROUD TO BE A COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER
I REMEMBER WELL, THE WELL WHERE I DREW WATER
THE WORK WE DONE WAS HARD
AT NIGHT WE’D SLEEP ‘CAUSE WE WERE TIRED
I NEVER THOUGHT OF LEAVIN’ APPLE HOLLER
(tempo slows)
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WAY BACK THEN
AND I’D LOVE TO SEE OUR FIRST SWEET HOME AGAIN
NOT MUCH LEFT ‘CEPT THE FLOOR
NO ONE LIVES THERE ANYMORE
JUST THE MEMORIES OF A COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER
(End of song. SFX: Country sounds, birds, etc.).
DARLENE (Calling to her father offstage).
Supper’ll be ready in just a little bit, Daddy! (Looking to heaven) Mama, ya know I ain’t
been happy since what happened to my boyfriend a while back. And Daddy’s turned
mean since you passed on to heaven … maybe he’s just unhappy, too. I keep thinkin’
about everything. Sometimes my memories of Billy Jo scare me some. They scare me a
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 16
August 2002
lot…and I have bad dreams at night about him, but during the day I got dreams in my
heart and I know that I gotta sing those bad dreams away. So, Mama, I’ve just got to
leave now…I want to go to a big city with tall buildings, and lots of places to make
music!
(SFX crossfades to traffic noises—horns honking, etc.
Lights fade on Darlene as she exits).
Sue Ellen slowly enters the stage and the lights come
up on her. She begins to sing “9 to 5” as though she
is very groggy at first. She has on dark glasses, a
head scarf, and is carrying a coffee mug. She then
addresses her “story song” to the audience.
9 To 5
SUE ELLEN
TUMBLE OUT OF BED
AND STUMBLE TO THE KITCHEN
POUR MYSELF A CUP OF AMBITION
AND YAWN AND STRETCH
AND TRY TO COME TO LIFE
JUMP IN THE SHOWER
Tempo starts to quicken.
AND THE BLOOD STARTS PUMPIN’
OUT ON THE STREET THE TRAFFIC STARTS JUMPIN’
WITH FOLKS LIKE ME
ON THE JOB FROM 9 TO 5
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 17
August 2002
Chorus. Darlene and Angela sing backup vocals from
backstage.
WORKIN’ 9 TO 5
WHAT A WAY TO MAKE A LIVIN’
BARELY GETTING’ BY
IT’S ALL TAKIN’ AND NO GIVIN’
THEY JUST USE YOUR MIND
AND THEY NEVER GIVE YOU CREDIT
IT’S ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU
CRAZY IF YOU LET IT
She goes into her office and takes off her scarf and
sunglasses.
9 TO 5 FOR SERVICE AND DEVOTION
YOU WOULD THINK THAT I MIGHT
DESERVE A GOOD PROMOTION
WANT TO MOVE AHEAD
BUT THE BOSS WON’T SEEM TO LET ME
I SWEAR SOMETIMES THAT MAN
IS OUT TO GET ME
OOOOH!
Sue Ellen goes to her desk and uses a one-fingered
“hunt and peck” method of typing. Then she uses her
rolling chair for her choreography.
THEY LET YOU DREAM
JUST TO WATCH THEM SHATTER
YOU’RE JUST A STEP
THE HONKY TONK ANGELS 18
August 2002
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