Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Produce ALWAYS PATSY CLINE, Opens 4/3

For the first time, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres will produce the hugely popular musical play about the legendary country singer, Miss Patsy Cline. Always...Patsy Cline opens Friday, April 3 on the Fireside stage with official opening festivities on Friday, April 17th.

Always...Patsy Cline has enjoyed great success with audiences across the United States including a successful Off-Broadway run in 1997. According to American Theatre Magazine it has been one of the most highly produced musicals in America. Always...Patsy Cline has also been enjoyed internationally in Canada, Europe and Australia.

Always...Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. Seger first heard Cline on the "Arthur Godfrey Show" in 1957 and became an avid fan who 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 early. By coincidence, she met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship and Seger received the first of many letters and phone calls from Cline. The show's title was inspired by Cline's letters to Seger, which were consistently signed "Love Always...Patsy Cline."This unique pen-pal relationship provides much of Patsy's story culminating in that fateful evening when Seger hears of Cline's death in a plane crash at the age of 30. Seger supplies the narrative while Cline floats in and out singing 27 of the tunes that made her famous. Always...Patsy Cline tells the story of Patsy's life with humor and poignancy. It offers fans who remember her, a chance to fondly reminisce, and gives new fans a glimpse of who Patsy was and what she meant to her original fans.
Patsy Cline's enduring legacy as one of our greatest singers continues to thrill listeners, and Always...Patsy Cline endures as a piece of American musical theatre that inspires audiences far and wide with its simple heart and pure joy of theatrical storytelling tradition. Somehow, it captures not only the spirit of Patsy Cline's brilliance, but also the magic of something truly Americana, part of the soul of country music -- the music of The Common people.

Always...Patsy Cline was created in 1988 by Ted Swindley in Houston, Texas where he was founding artistic director of Stages Repertory Theatre. Having been closely involved with the development of new plays and musicals throughout his career, Swindley was considering ideas for a small summer musical in the Texas City that would appeal to local audiences. Fortunately, a young singer in his company of actors had the desire to sing the Patsy Cline repertoire and the idea seemed a good match for the Houston theatre even though Swindley himself was not a country music fan or devoted fan of Ms. Cline. Of course, he was aware of Cline's big hits like "Crazy," "I Fall To Pieces" and "Sweet Dreams" but as he began researching the idea for a musical about the legendary country singer, he became an instant devotee of her repertoire of songs and the magnificent sound of Patsy's rich, contralto voice. The show was an instant hit with audiences and the author knew that what was meant to be just a local Texas story had much greater appeal. He had no idea Patsy's fan base was so deep and broad-based, or that the simple story of a fan's chance meeting would have such universal appeal.

Monica Heuser, in the role of Patsy Cline, makes her Chanhassen debut. Heuser first set foot in the Twin Cities when she was cast as Patsy Cline in Troupe America's 1998 National Tour of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline. It was the very first time she had performed the role and since then she has performed the role every year, somewhere, for more than a decade. In fact, she is officially sanctioned by the estate of Patsy Cline! Heuser's other notable credits include the 2007 Ivey Award-winning Love, Janis (Ordway) and the National Tour of Menopause The Musical. Cline's pen pal friend, Louise Seger, is played by the diversely talented and award-winning actor Peggy O'Connell. O'Connell has a long history performing with Chanhassen Dinner Theatres dating back to 1980 when she debuted as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun. Since then, O'Connell has performed across the country from New York to Los Angeles appearing on Broadway opposite Tommy Tune in My One and Only, and on television in the popular television series "Northern Exposure." She can now be seen on stages across the Twin Cities from the Guthrie to Chanhassen. A live band appears on stage with the actors and provides vocal and instrumental accompaniment.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Artistic Director Michael Brindisi directs. His artistic team includes: Musical Director Kyle Clausen; Choreographer: Tamara Kangas-Erickson; Scenic Designer Nayna Ramey; Costume Designer Rich Hamson; Lighting Designer Sue Ellen Berger; Hair/Makeup Designer Susan Magnuson and Sound Designer Russ Haynes. Production Stage Manager is Susan Magnuson.
Always...Patsy Cline opens Friday, April 3 and is slated to run through Oct 31. Performances: Evenings: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:00 dinner/8:15 curtain, price $49 (includes dinner); Friday and Saturday 6pm dinner/8:15 curtain, price $60 (includes dinner); Sunday 5pm dinner/7pm curtain, price $50 (includes dinner). Show only tickets available ten days prior to date of attendance. Limited matinees ($42 including dinner), please inquire for dates. Always...Patsy Cline is best suited to ages 13 and older. Reservations are highly recommended by calling the box office at 952-934-1525 or toll free 1-800-362-3515. In addition, tickets may be purchased and information obtained online at www.ChanhassenDT.com. Free parking and coat check are available for all performances.