FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 16, 2003
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232
CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK'S SHELTERHOUSE
SEASON CONTINUES
WITH A LOVING TRIBUTE TO A MUSICAL LEGEND IN ALWAYS...
PATSY CLINE,
NOVEMBER 8-JANUARY 18
(CINCINNATI) — The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s
Thompson Shelterhouse theatre season continues with a toe-tapping tribute
to musical legend Patsy Cline. A sold-out hit at the Playhouse in a limited
run three summers ago, Ted Swindley’s Always... Patsy Cline begins
public previews on November 8, 2003 and continues through January 18,
2004.
At its heart, Always... Patsy Cline is based on
the true story of friendship between a musical superstar and her biggest
fan. From the moment she first hears Patsy singing “Walkin’ After
Midnight” on Arthur Godfrey’s television talent program in
1957, Louise Seger is smitten with her remarkable voice. But it’s
several years until she actually gets the chance to hear Patsy again,
when the singer makes a live appearance in Houston. Louise gathers together
a group of friends and arrives at the club early to stake out a table
for the show. That’s when she sees Patsy, sitting by the jukebox
and looking lonely.
Louise strikes up a conversation with the singer and the
two form a fast friendship, sharing stories of their lives, families,
hopes and dreams. It’s a friendship that is maintained through
letters — the show’s title is taken from Patsy’s signature
closing — until the sudden end of Patsy’s life in 1963.
The story of Patsy and Louise’s friendship serves as a backdrop that
showcases some of the singer’s greatest hits, including “Crazy,” “I
Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams,” “She’s Got You,” “Three
Cigarettes in an Ashtray” and “Back in Baby’s Arms.” In
all, the show features more than 20 favorite songs.
Patsy Cline is arguably as popular today, 40 years after her death in a plane
crash near Camden, Tennessee, as she was during the height of her career. She
was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall
of Fame (in 1973), and she recently topped Country Music Television’s
list of the 40 Greatest Women in Country. A new recording was released this
September titled Remembering Patsy Cline. It features Ms. Cline’s
greatest hits performed by popular contemporary artists, including Norah Jones,
Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, K.D. Lang and Martina McBride, among others.
The cast for Always... Patsy Cline features the return of the two
women who made the Playhouse production so popular in 2000. Molly Andrews portrays
the title role. Ms. Andrews is recognized nationally as one of the finest interpreters
of traditional music and is a nominee for the Virginia Governor’s Awards
for the Arts. She has performed at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center
Theatre Company, Meadow Brook Theatre, Virginia Stage Company and San Diego
Repertory Theatre, among others. Her radio appearances include NPR’s Mountain
Stage, E-Town and West Coast Weekend, as well as programs
for the BBC, Radio Oslo and others. In addition to Always... Patsy Cline,
she previously appeared at the Playhouse in the 1999 production of Appalachian
Strings.
Portraying Louise, Adale O’Brien is a veteran regional theatre actress
who appeared previously at the Playhouse in Appalachian Strings and Dear
Liar in addition to Always... Patsy Cline. Her credits include The
Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Importance of Being Earnest, Dracula, The
Wizard of Oz, Cocoanuts, Quilters, The Trip to Bountiful, Agnes
of God and more than 200 others at Actors Theatre of Louisville, as well
as productions at The Cleveland Play House, Meadow Brook Theatre, Studio Arena
Theatre, Arena Stage and Long Wharf Theatre. She is a recipient of the Governor’s
Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts in Kentucky and is the co-author
of See the U.S.A. With Your Resume.
The show is directed by Frazier W. Marsh. The music director
is Scott Kasbaum. Other production team members include Paul Owen (Set
Designer), Delmar L. Rinehart, Jr. (Costume Designer) and Tony Penna
(Lighting Designer). The stage manager is Suann Pollock.
Tickets to Always... Patsy Cline are on sale now. Prices range from
$41.50-$49.50, depending on day and seat location. All tickets are $34.50 for
the preview performances at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 7 p.m. Sunday, November
9, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 12. The
official opening night performance is Thursday, November 13 at 8 p.m.
Any unreserved tickets are half-price every day when purchased at the Playhouse
between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the show (for performances Tuesday
through Saturday) and from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there is no performance on Thursday, November
27. Instead there is a performance on Monday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. There
are no performances on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
Instead, there are performances on Monday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday,
December 29 at 7:30 p.m. There are no 7 p.m. performances on Sundays in December
or January.
The performance of Always... Patsy Cline on New Year’s Eve,
December 31, features a special package. Ticket prices are $59.50 or $55.50
(depending on seating location) and include a complimentary bar throughout
the show’s 20-minute intermission and a free champagne toast with the
cast following the performance.
The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print
programs and complete wheelchair access are available.
For tickets to Always... Patsy Cline or for more information, call
the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and
Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. For single
tickets purchased by telephone through the Playhouse box office there is a
$2 convenience fee per call. Tickets also can be purchased on the Playhouse
web site at www.cincyplay.com.
Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection COMAIR, the Playhouse’s
official airline.
The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands
of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage
economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati.
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