Monday, March 19, 2012

PATSY CLINE: ALWAYS A COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND




According to legend, Patsy Cline started her amazing singing career at age 3 when she entertained her family and neighbors in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where she was born in 1932.  Her meteoric musical path ended tragically when she was killed in a plane crash at only 30 years of age, but her country music charisma is still strong today almost five decades after her death.

To celebrate her country music stardom, the Ivoryton Playhouse will be hooting and hollering in tribute with “Always... Patsy Cline,” produced by Ted Swindley, until Sunday, April 1.

This intimate and song-filled fun fest follows Patsy, superbly brought to life by Jacqueline Petroccia, from her early triumphs on the Arthur Godfrey Show to her national fame at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.  This production uses the true tale of one of her biggest fans, Louise Seger, charmingly created by a vivacious Laurie Dawn, to tell Patsy’s story as her fame when steadily up the music charts.

With a great band, the “Bodacious Bobcats” led by John DeNicola, to bring each number roaring across the finish line, Petroccia belts out such grand numbers as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Honky Tonk Angel” and almost two dozen more for good measure.

Louise and Patsy become fast girl pals when they meet before one of the singer’s shows, revealing true and down home glimpses into her life and personality and the swift and real friendship that developed.  Jacqui Hubbard directs this genuine look at one of country music’s icons who endures in popularity today, influencing many of the female stars who came after.

For tickets ($40, seniors $35, students $20, children $15), call the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton at 860-767-7318 or online at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org.  Performances are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Let Jacqueline Petroccia and her golden honey voice recreate the influence and impact that Patsy Cline wove into a magical, musical spell. 


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