Legendary American country singer Patsy Cline died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963.
The musical Always…Patsy Cline, which will performed at Hurstville on September 22, is more than a tribute to her memory.
The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death.
The musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation, includes 27 of Cline’s unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight.
The show’s title was inspired by Cline’s letters to Seger, which were signed “Love always…Patsy Cline.”
Always…Patsy Cline has enjoyed great success all over the United States, including a successful run off-Broadway.
It has been one of the most produced musicals in America according to American Theatre Magazine.
This new production directed by AFI award winning Denny Lawrence stars award winning Australian Country Music singing sensation Courtney Conway as Patsy Cline and popular stage star Mandi Lodge (Menopause The Musical, Just The Ticket) as Louise Seger.
Courtney has spent significant time researching Cline in readiness to take on the role, including travelling to Nashville.
“I recently visited the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, which was originally the Grand Ole Opry where Patsy Cline performed from 1960 until she tragically passed away when she was 30,” Conway said.
“This is also where Always…Patsy Cline premiered in 1994.
“Patsy was quite the character. She was very funny.
“I’ve gone through some of her letters she’d written and she has made me laugh quite a bit.
“She was a very strong woman. She paved the way for a lot of country music artists like myself.”
- Always…Patsy Cline is on at the Civic Theatre, 16 MacMahon St, Hurstville, on Thursday at 8pm.
