Photo Flash: Alana Opie and Brittney Klepper Star in Manatee Players' ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE, Beg. Tonight

Always...Patsy Cline christens the Manatee Players' Kiwanis Studio Theater stage as the first full theatrical production in the new intimate space at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. The show opens tonight, September 19 and runs through October 6. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars onstage below!

The musical stars Alana Opie as Patsy and Brittney Klepper as Louise. Both actresses have appeared on numerous occasions at many of our area theaters.

Always...Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. Having first heard Cline on the "Arthur Godfrey Show" in 1957, Seger became an immediate and avid fan of Cline's and she constantly hounded the local disc jockey to play Cline's records on the radio.

In 1961 when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her buddies arrived about an hour-and-a-half early and, by coincidence, met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger's house--a friendship that lasted until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash in 1963.

The relationship, which began as fan worship evolved into one of mutual respect. It is the kind of relationship that many fans would like to have with their heroes.

The show is being directed by Preston Boyd with Seth Wertz as musical director.

Performances are Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $26 including facility fee for adults, $15 including facility fee for teachers and $13 including facility fee for students. Tickets may be reserved by calling 941-748-5875 Monday - Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players' website at www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Avenue West in downtown Bradenton.

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