Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park Presents ALWAYS … PATSY CLINE 11/19

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre season with the heartfelt, toe-tapping tribute to musical legend Patsy Cline. A sold out-hit at The Playhouse in 2000 and 2003, ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE begins previews in The Playhouse's Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre November 19, 2011 and continues through January 22, 2012.

ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE is based on the true story of friendship between a musical superstar and her biggest fan. From the moment she first hears Patsy singing "Walkin' After Midnight" on Arthur Godfrey's television talent program in 1957, Louise Seger is smitten with her remarkable voice. But it's several years until she actually gets the chance to hear Patsy again, when the singer makes a live appearance in Houston. Louise gathers together a group of friends and arrives at the club early to stake out a table for the show. That's when she sees Patsy, sitting by the jukebox and looking lonely.

Louise strikes up a conversation with the singer and the two form a fast friendship, sharing stories of their lives, families, hopes and dreams. It's a friendship that is maintained through letters - the show's title is taken from Patsy's signature closing - until the sudden end of Patsy's life in 1963.

The story of Patsy and Louise's friendship serves as a backdrop that showcases some of the singer's greatest hits, including "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "She's Got You," "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray" and "Back in Baby's Arms." In all, the show features more than 20 favorite songs.

Special Performances

Meet the Artists

These free programs allow audiences to interact with cast members and others associated with the production following the show.

2 p.m. Sunday, November 27

2 p.m. Sunday, December 4

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 21
Dining Options

Karlo's Bistro at The Playhouse offers full-service dining prior to most evening performances. Dinners include salad, entrée and dessert. Reservations are required by noon on the day of the show. The price is $27. Karlo's Casual Fare offers busy theatre patrons an alternative light, quick bite prior to the show. Options include salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta and desserts. No reservations are required. Credit cards are now accepted.

Sponsors

Production Sponsors:

Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. and Western & Southern Financial Group.

Honorary Producers:

Gary and Linda Greenberg

Design Sponsor:

Atkins and Pearce, Inc.

Artist Sponsors:

Cincinnati Coin Laundry, Provident Travel and AAA Allied Group.

The 2011-2012 Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre Series is presented by The Heidelberg Distributing Co.

Patsy's phenomenal talent has yet to be eclipsed in the country music world, with many awards coming posthumously. Among them: first female solo artist inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, in 1973; Number One on CMT's The 40 Greatest Women of Country Music list; and, as testament to her cross-over fame, Number 11 on VH1's The 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll. A legion of dedicated fans remain, including many not yet born when she died; there's an annual pilgrimage event in Winchester and a recently opened museum in her modest family home. Her fame resurged in the 1980s with Loretta Lynn's biopic, Coal Miner's Daughter; Sweet Dreams, the Jessica Lange movie based on her life and multiple biographies.

Carter Calvert portrays the title role. Ms. Calvert grew up in Cincinnati since the age of 9, and is a graduate of the School for Creative and Performing Arts. New York credits include starring roles in the original Tony Award-nominated Broadway production and national tour of It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues (as well as the Original Broadway Cast Album), Forbidden Broadway and The Thing About Men. She toured Europe in Smokey Joe's Café and played Grizabella in the national tour of Cats. She previously appeared at The Playhouse in the 2002 production of The Honky Tonk Angels. Her television appearances include The David Letterman Show, Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Today Show. Ms. Calvert is also an accomplished voice-over artist and can be heard in numerous national commercials including Wendy's, Voom, MTV and Charles Schwab. She is currently the voice of Kindle.

Kathleen M. Brady will make her Playhouse debut as Louise Seger. She has appeared in more than 100 productions as an actor in residence since 1987 at the Denver Center Theatre Company, including A Trip to Bountiful, Blithe Spirit, Quilters, Well, The Beauty Queen of Leenanne, The Madwoman, The Rivals, Appalachian Strings and Bernice/Butterfly (written for her by playwright Nagle Jackson).

Randal Myler (Love, Janis; Appalachian Springs), who co-authored and directed It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, will direct. Other members of the production team include Musical Director Michael Sebastian, Set Designer Vicki Smith, Costume Designer Gordon DeVinney, Lighting Designer Betsy Adams and Sound Designer Timothy J. Ryan. The Production Stage Manager is Jenifer Morrow.

Prices for ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE range from $25 - $73, depending on day and seat location and are subject to change. Tickets are just $25 for the preview performances at 8 p.m. Saturday, November 19; 7 p.m. Sunday, November 20; 7:30 p.m. Monday, November 21 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 22. The official opening night is Wednesday, November 23 at 8 p.m.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there is no performance on Thursday, November 24. There are no performances on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets to ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE are on sale now. For more information, call The Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 (toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208) or visit www.cincyplay.com. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility.

The Playhouse is fully accessible. Audio enhancement receivers, large print programs and complete wheelchair access are available.

The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to ArtsWave.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Playhouse also receives funding from the Shubert Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.