‘The Honky Tonk Angels’ to open in Eunice July 15

More than two dozen classic country songs fill the bill for the Eunice Players’ Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Honky Tonk Angels.”
From traditional tunes such as “I’ll Fly Away,” “Amazing Grace” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” to favorites such as “Stand By Your Man,” “Fancy,” “Nine to Five” and “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” the country western musical comedy pays tribute to the Nashville sound as it follows three ladies on their journey to become singing stars.
“I can tell you right now that audiences are going to love it,” said Annette Harrington, director for this year’s summer musical. “We have been blessed with tremendous talent to bring this show to life.”
Production dates are July 15-19 and 22-25. Curtain time is 7 p.m. except for the Sunday, July 19, show, which will begin at 2 p.m.
Dinner theatre is offered on Wednesday, July 22, with dinner at Ruby’s Courtyard beginning at 6 p.m.
The $15 tickets are available at David’s Hair Ltd. at 204 South Second Street and Charming Interiors, located at 1701 W. Laurel, both in Eunice. Dinner theatre tickets are $35 total. The two ticket outlets may be reached at 337-546-0163 or 337-466-3342.
The trio of “Angels” ready to share their individual stories that bring them together on a bus bound for Nashville are not new to the Eunice stage. They are Jeanne LeJeune Eddins of Iota, Sharon Jenkins Blankenship of Bayou Chicot, and Amy Eudora Fontenot Maricle, also of Bayou Chicot.
Eddins will play the role of Angela. Eddins first appeared on stage at Eunice Players’ Theatre in 1993, portraying Betty Rizzo in “Grease,” a role for which she received an Irving for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. After a long sabbatical from theatre, she appeared again onstage at Eunice Players’ in 2012 as Lady Catherine in “Camelot,” winning an Irving for Best Supporting Actress. That same summer, she was co-stage manager for “The Trial of Goldilocks,” a children’s play in which her children were supporting actors. In 2013 she took to the local stage again as a backup singer with the Bobbettes for “Always . . . Patsy Cline.”
She also has been part of Acadia Players Theatre as a technical consultant for the 2010 production of “Grease,” as prosecuting attorney Ms. Mara in
“Miracle on 34th Street” and as Aunt Iney in “Southern Hospitality.”
Blankenship, who plays the role of Darlene, also has several past experiences with Eunice Players’ Theatre. Her stage premier was as a teenager when she appeared in “Singing in the Rain.” She went on to appear in “Jake’s Women,” “It’s a Scream,” “Little Women,” “Always . . . Patsy Cline” and Camelot. She has also worked lights and sound for “Tuna Christmas” and “Dearly Departed,” co-directed “Hope for the Best” and performed for several Irving Awards ceremonies.
Maricle plays the part of Sue Ellen and discovered Eunice Players’ Theatre while helping Blankenship with her part in Singing in the Rain. She has appeared on stage in Hope for the Best, Camelot, and Always, Patsy Cline, and has performed at Irving Awards ceremonies.
The girls will be accompanied on stage by a five piece band under the direction of Jimmy Broussard, the show’s musical director.
The two-act show is written by Ted Swindley, author of “Always . . . Patsy Cline.”