Honky Tonk Angels: The feel-good musical of the summer arrives at the Laguna Playhouse
By MARRIE STONE
For a perfect August outing this summer, try an afternoon at the Sawdust Festival followed by an evening with the Honky Tonk Angels at the Laguna Playhouse. Now through August 17, music fans can stomp their boots to 30 country classics. Pop favorites like “Nine to Five,” “These Boots Were Made for Walking,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Delta Dawn” and dozens of others will prove fun for the whole family.
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Photos by Jason Niedle/TETHOS
(L-R) Shelley Regner, Darcy Rose Byrnes and Alexandra Melrose star in the Laguna Playhouse production of “Honky Tonk Angels” through August 17
Three women. From three generations. Living in different parts of the country. Battling different life challenges. But they all share one dream – to sing country tunes on a Nashville stage.
Angela, played by Alexandra Melrose, lives in her double-wide trailer with her husband Bubba and their six kids. While pursuing a career in Los Angeles, Texas-born Sue Ellen (played by Shelley Regner) becomes pinned under the thumb of a boss giving her trouble. Darcy Rose Byrnes stars as Darlene, who finds herself trapped in the Mississippi Delta, caring for her father after her boyfriend died.
The three women meet on a Nashville-bound bus. They connect over their fears and aspirations and soon discover they sing well together.
“They’re all at that moment of realizing they need to put themselves first for once and pursue this thing that makes them happy,” Byrnes said.
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(L-R) Alexandra Melrose as Angela, Darcy Rose Byrnes as Darlene and Shelley Regner as Sue Ellen
Director David Ellenstein, who also serves as the artistic director at North Coast Rep and staged this musical there in 2007, says Honky Tonk Angels is the most fun he’s ever had doing a show. “My production manager at North Coast used to say he hated musicals,” Ellenstein said. “When we did the show there, he said, ‘I think this is my favorite show we’ve done.’”
Fun is just what Ellenstein was looking for this year. “What a great show to do for Laguna in the summertime because it has an element of hokiness to it, yet it’s really sweet and touching and the music is great,” he said. “We’ve got a six-piece band who, pardon my French, is kick-ass. If you get three singer/actors who are really game to do it, it’s just a ton of fun.”
Ellenstein nabbed the perfect cast. Melrose trained at Trinity College in Dublin and worked with The Groundlings. Her stage credits include Sunday in the Park with George (Pasadena Playhouse), Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Tour, Beauty and the Beast, School of Rock and others. Regner is most recognized as Ashley (of the Barden Bellas) in the Pitch Perfect franchise and was the Mezzo of Disney DCappella’s debut album and first national tour.
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Byrnes, who returns to the Playhouse stage having starred in both Rapunzel (2024) and The Remarkable Mister Holmes (2025), rounds out the trio. We spoke with her to get a glimpse behind the curtain in advance of the play’s opening this week.
Byrnes is best known for her roles as Abby on The Young and the Restless, Penny on Desperate Housewives and Princess Amber in Sofia the First. She’s excited to announce the sequel will be debuting next year.
“We are back for new episodes and new songs. The music in that show is always incredible and it’s nice to sing as Princess Amber again,” Byrnes said. “I’ve missed my imaginary friend, so it’s exciting to have her back in the world.”
Until then, Byrnes is loving her role as Darlene. It gives her a chance not only to explore a character with a bit of a dark past, but also expand her skills as a musician.
“I’m a singer-songwriter, but this is the first time I’m playing in a band and not just accompanying myself,” Byrnes said. “I don’t play for the whole show, but I do play guitar for six of the songs.”
No stranger to trying new things, Byrnes can play roughly 20 instruments to varying degrees. In addition to the guitar, her repertoire includes the piano, ukulele, bass, flute, fiddle and banjo. But she also plays some unconventional ones like the Irish drum, cajón, ruan, Celtic harp, mandolin, bodhrán, tin whistle and others. “Basically, anything I can get my hands on,” she said.
When Byrnes was 3 or 4, she began scribbling out songs to perform for her parents. Each week, she’d add new lines and verses. Eventually, her hands caught up to her brain and she began playing what she heard in her head. She picked up the ukulele around age 13, having already learned the guitar, and that’s when her obsession with learning new instruments began.
“Every instrument has a different sound and a different way to play it that utilizes that unique instrument’s magic,” Byrnes said. “Every time I wrote a song on a different instrument, it became a different thing because I had a different set of tools in my hands. Now I’ve written about 300 songs.”
That love of music makes Byrnes a perfect fit for this role. “If you like country music, you’re going to hear songs you already love, but in a new context,” she said. “We have songs that are very sincere and honest, and we have songs that are absolute show numbers and romps.”
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Darcy Rose Byrnes takes the forefront as Shelley Regner stands behind in “Honky Tonk Angels”
Even for those who aren’t steeped in country music, there’s plenty to enjoy. “There’s something in it for everyone,” Byrnes said. “All three of us are from different generations in our stories so everyone will find something.”
“People need a little escape,” Ellenstein added. “It’s a joy-filled, funny, touching, life-affirming event. Perfect for a summer night in Laguna. That’s why I picked it. Go to the Sawdust Festival during the day, then come over and see Honky Tonk Angels at night.”
Honky Tonk Angels runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. Tickets range from $61-$115. There will be a post-show talkback following the Friday, Aug. 8 performance. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit their website by clicking here.
Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.
