Meet Some of Florida Studio Theatre's Honky Tonk Angels

Get ready for a boot-scootin' celebration! Honky Tonk Angels, created by the mind that brought us the hit musical Always... Patsy Cline, is playing at Florida Studio Theatre starting May 27.

Get to know some of the angels in Honky Tonk Angels in this behind-the-scenes Q&A with Hailie Lucille (Sue Ellen) and Hannah Taylor (Darlene).

What are you most excited about during your time here?

Hailie: I can’t wait to explore the city of Sarasota, get a tan, and share the joy of country music with everyone!

Hannah: To connect with this community through making music and telling with story!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Hailie: I love to walk around and explore new places, find a coffee shop, phone a friend, and read a good book.

Hannah: I write songs and play guitar for my band "retro grade."

Do you have any pre- or post-show routines?

Hailie: I do quite a bit of moving around in the show, so warming up my body is equally as important as warming up my voice. Before shows I like to do a yoga flow, go for a walk, and sing/listen to some of my favorite tunes. Right now “Your Smiling Face” by James Taylor is on repeat. Post-show I like to unwind with a cup of peppermint tea and my heating pad.

Hannah: Pre-show, I like to go for a run to get my heart rate up, stretch, and do a full vocal warmup. I also like to listen to music in the world of whatever show I’m in!

When you first read Honky Tonk Angels, what resonated with you? Was there a particular part of the musical that stood out to you?

Hailie: I loved that by the end of the play, these women had gained the confidence to follow their dreams and to be authentically themselves, rather than living in the shadows of others.

Hannah: During the first reading of Honky Tonk Angels, I was struck by the big heart of all three of these women, the beauty of the connection they form through music, and the care they have for each other.

Do you relate to the character you play? Why or why not?

Hailie: I do! We were encouraged to take a personality test as our character, and Sue Ellen’s results were quite similar to what my own would be. I relate to her being an ambitious, independent career woman, who won’t settle for mediocrity.

Hannah: Very much! I remember being a kid who spent a lot of time in rural Georgia with big dreams of making music. I think Darlene finds comfort from her day to day life in making music and I can for sure relate to that. I also think music is something that connects us all!

What would you like audiences to know about Honky Tonk Angels before they see it?

Hailie: They should know that they’re in for a treat! The songs are timeless, these girls are such a joy to sing with, and their voices are out of this world! It’s a show with a lot of heart. It shows you that even out of tough circumstances, you can rise above.

Hannah: This show has so much heart. Be ready to laugh and fall in love with these characters!

What do you want audiences to think and feel after seeing the show?

Hailie: I want them to leave singing the tunes, and cherishing the joy of friendship and community.

Hannah: I want audiences to feel inspired to follow their dreams. No matter where you are at in your life, it’s always possible to follow your dream and pursue what you love!