The University of Mary Washington Department of Theatre & Dance will continue its 2013-2014 season with a production of “Always…Patsy Cline.” Performances will be Feb. 6-8, Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 20-22 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 2 p.m. in duPont Hall’s Klein Theatre.
Photo by Geoff Greene.
Written by Ted Swindley, “Always…Patsy Cline” is based on the true story of Louise Seger, a fan of 1960s country singer Patsy Cline. Louise gets the chance to meet Cline when the singer comes to her hometown of Houston for a show. The two become fast friends and continue to keep in touch through letters until Clines’s tragic death.
The musical features many of Patsy Cline’s original hits, including “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces.”
Junior Taryn Snyder of Henrietta, N.Y., will play the role of Patsy Cline and junior Emily Burke of Fredericksburg will play the role of Louise Seger.
Photo by Geoff Greene.
Patsy Cline was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. She died in 1963 in a plane crash coming back from a benefit concert in Kansas City at 30 years old. Her plaque in the Hall of Fame reads: “Her heritage of timeless recordings is testimony to her artistic capacity.”
The performance is directed by Gregg Stull, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance and Department of Music, with musical direction by Christopher Wingert. Scenic design is by associate professor Julie Hodge and costume design is by associate professor Kevin McCluskey. Lighting and sound designs are by guest artists Catherine Girardi and Anthony Angelini. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit http://umw.tix.com/.
