“Always…Patsy Cline” corrals audiences into the past

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

By Robyn Vincent

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-We all get by with a little help from our friends. They are the Band-Aids to cover and protect many of our wounds. Chronicling the friendship between iconic country singer Patsy Cline and admiring fan, Houston housewife Louise Seger, “Always … Patsy Cline,” debuts at the Center for the Arts on Tuesday, July 8.
The title comes from the closing line used in all of Cline’s letters to Seger.

The two women met before one of Cline’s performances in Houston, and they became fast friends. Though the friendship began with Seger’s admiration for Cline, they quickly cultivated a deep connection.

Produced by Jackson’s Off Square Theatre Company, the show spotlights an evening at Houston’s Esquire Ballroom, when Seger receives the unfortunate news that Cline has died in a fatal airplane crash.

Starring as Patsy Cline, actress Katie Deal is set to sweetly serenade audience members, moving between a physical and celestial state. While Deal sings 27 of Cline’s compositions, Off Square resident actress Judy Townsend (Louise Seger) will narrate a day in the life of Cline.

Deal, a Georgia native with a honeyed Southern drawl and vivacious smile, is no stranger to the Patsy Cline portrayal. She starred in productions of Springer Opera House’s “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline,” throughout the country before her role in “Always … Patsy Cline.”

Although both plays grant insight into Cline’s life, Deal said “Always … Patsy Cline” offers a more intimate perspective on the country singin’ cowgirl.
“This play is much more about her personality. Patsy Cline is a real person in this show,” Deal said.

One of Cline’s major appeals was the way she vocalized emotion, and this performance offers insight into why Cline could express the subject matter of her songs so well, Deal said.

While opening the door to a more personal portrayal of Cline, the play also presents a playful rendition of female friendships and the bonds often formed between two women.
To prepare for the role of Patsy Cline, Deal spent hours listening to Cline’s songs. She studied the idiosyncrasies that lay within the few available video clips of the singer. Deal said she discovered something different each time.

“The show is challenging; you learn something new with each performance. I listen to a song that I’ve heard a thousand times, and all the sudden, I’ll hear something that I didn’t notice when I was singing the song,” Deal said.

Though she has immersed herself in  hours of preparation, Deal said listeners have always observed her uncanny vocal resemblance to the fêted soloist.

“I was in a band in high school, and we would play acoustic stuff in coffee shops. I had a friend who loved Patsy Cline and each time he came to our shows he would tell me, ‘You’ve got to learn a new Patsy Cline song because you sound just like her,’” Deal said.
With each performance, Deal continues to receive acclaim for her ability to mirror the voice of the sweet-sounding, celebrated Southern gal.

“Always … Patsy Cline” premieres at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, and runs  through July 13 at the Center for the Arts.

All seats are $30. Call the box office at 733-4900 to purchase tickets.

Photo by SPENCER SIMENSEN
Katie Deal stars as Patsy Cline in Off Square’s newest production.

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“Always…Patsy Cline” corrals audiences into the past | Planet JH News Article: General Music Arts and Culture

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