Three young women pursuing a dream of country music stardom meet on a bus bound for Nashville in Ted Swindley's Honky Tonk Angels, the show that opens the Shawnee Theater of Greene County's fiftieth season.
The Trio
There's innocent Darlene, a young Southern girl with stars in her eyes. Then there's Ellen, an L.A. divorcée. And finally, there's Angela, a housewife searching for excitement.
Angela's Ironies
Amy Burgmaier plays the part of Angela. "My character just got on a bus and left her husband and six children behind. It's kind of ironic that one of my signature songs is Tammy Wynette's ‘Stand By Your Man'!"
Of the three, Burgmaier is the only one without a degree in music. "I was always interested in musical theatre, but I went to college for a B.A. in design and then a masters in journalism." Her apparent Southern accent stands out, but she says it ain't authentic: "Actually, I'm from Iowa! With all these country songs, the people at Shawnee have been telling me that I've been talking like a real Southerner."
The Music
"Ted Swindley, who put this show together, has really done a great job with the selections. Each of us has a few real hits to sing. I do enjoy my features, but a real part of the fun in this show for me and for the audience is when the three of us get to sing together."