Always… Patsy Cline Opens Lyric Theatre's 2011 Season

Lyric Theatre, Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company, opens its 2011 Season with the country musical legend, Always... Patsy Cline. See "the velvet-voice of country music" star, Patsy Cline, come to life this winter at Lyric Theatre's Plaza stage. This musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation includes twenty-seven musical renditions of her unforgettable hits such as "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "Walking After Midnight" and "Honky Tonk Merry Go Round." The power of friendship between Patsy and her number one fan, Houston housewife, Louise Seger, is also explored. Having first heard Cline on "The Arthur Godfrey Show" in 1957, Seger became an immediate and avid fan constantly hounding the local disc jockey to play Cline's records on the radio. Their relationship, which began as fan worship, evolved into one of mutual respect for one another. This endearing story combines humor with sincerity and gives fans, old and new, a chance to remember the most acclaimed female country vocalist of the 20th century. 

This down home country of a musical is directed by Lyric Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Baron.  Michael, director of Lyric's wildly successful sold out performances of the recent The Rocky Horror Show, as well as the fun festive holiday hit December Divas, is very excited to bring this heart-warming true story to our Lyric audiences. Michael's other directing credits include Signature Sings, The Little Dog Laughed, The Lost Songs of Broadway: Vol. I and II and Songs for a New World (Signature at the Music Center at Strathmore) starring Alice Ripley, Brian D'Arcy James, Titus Burgess, Laura Griffith and music direction by Jason Robert Brown.

This two women show is starring a local Oklahoman as well as a born and raised Texan who is ready to go back to her roots- country music.  Julie Johnson, is playing the one and only Patsy Cline. Johnson's Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Hal Prince's Candide, Das Barbecu and Angel in The Rink. Johnson's regional credits include Dolly in Hello, Dolly!, Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Mae West in Dirty Blonde and Miss Trixie in Papermoon. 

"I put my whole heart and soul into playing the best tribute possible," says Johnson. "Her phrasing and emotion filled every note she sang and the songs reflected her life and her struggles. I am so fortunate to sing those songs and I can't wait to meet the audiences at Lyric Theatre!"
        
Brenda Williams is very familiar to Oklahoma audiences both as an actress and a director. Williams, playing Cline's loyal fan and friend, Louise Seger, has performed locally with Lyric Theatre, Carpenter Square, Jewel Box Theatre, St. Luke's, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City Repertory, Oklahoma City Theatre Company, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Oklahoma Children's Theatre and the Pollard Theatre.  Williams also teaches Drama, Stagecraft and Creative Writing at Harding Fine Arts Academy.

Single tickets for the Oklahoma City performance of Always... Patsy Cline are now available for $40.  Performances times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon. If you want more information on Lyric Theatre's 2011 season packages or single tickets for Always...Patsy Cline, visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com, call (405) 524-9312, or come by the Lyric box office at 1727 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK.

Lyric's production of Always... Patsy Cline is sponsored by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, The Oklahoman, Corner Energy and American Fidelity Assurance Company.  Annual support is provided by Allied Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Lyric Theatre will perform a special presentation of Always...Patsy Cline that has been generously underwritten by Continental Resources, one of the largest independent oil and natural gas companies in the United States. The show will play at the Enid Symphony Center on January 30th at 2:00 p.m. as a benefit for the Enid Symphony. For ticket information to the Enid performance, please call the Enid Symphony at (580) 237-9646.

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