The Friday 5: PATSY CLINE's Savanah Gannon and Mary Ellen Smith

Savannah Gannon and Mary Ellen Smith star in Arts Center of Cannon County's Always Patsy Cline, the award-winning play by Nashville's own Ted Swindley, opening tonight and running through June 18 in Woodbury. The show's a favorite among Tennessee theater-goers, and now's your chance to get to know director Matt Smith's two-woman cast who bring the show to life...

Savanah Gannon

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theatre? The first show I ever did was Honk! Jr. at Central Magnet School in the seventh grade. It was an absolute blast. I played the Cat and it was so much fun to play the villain! It was the first time I wore makeup and fake eyelashes and goodness, it was just a whirlwind of excitement!

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I love getting in the dressing room way before call time, usually about two to two and a half hours before. I like to sit in the dressing room with the lights dimmed and music playing so I can take my time on my makeup and hair and just have some time to really focus/

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? I remember during a production of Little Shop of Horrors at Riverdale High School, in which I played Audrey, and I broke the bottom lip of Audrey II. It was awful! It was the scene where Audrey falls in the plant and I fell right on the PVC pipe and act like nothing happened. I felt so bad because my fabulous director, Matt Smith, had to fix it a time or two.

What's your dream role? Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages is for sure my dream role. And it's funny because I'm actually in that show right now playing one of the waitresses, specifically Waitress #1. Which it's also a dream to just be in that show! And my awesome director, Brittany Goodwin, actually gave me the honor of being the understudy for both Sherrie and Regina. I am so thrilled for that show, it really is Broadway's biggest party.

Who is your theatrical crush? Aaron Tveit is hands down my theatre crush. He's so talented. He can sing his face off, dance incredibly well, and his acting is impeccable. But I think the best thing about him is that he he seems so down to earth! I would love to meet him one day. And frankly I'd like to marry him too, but we all know that won't turn out.

Why should people come see your show? The cool thing about this show, is that it brings a piece of the past to people who were alive while Patsy was making music. And you can't find that anywhere else. You get to hear a really personal story from a woman who was influenced by Patsy. Also, Mary Ellen is hysterical and she was a perfect choice for a character Louise. She breaks the fourth wall so well and she has no shame, and it's great. Another thing too, my grandmother helped me a lot with costumes and she gave me all these super nostalgic 50s and 60s outfits. She tailored them and helped make some and without her help a whole dynamic of the show wouldn't be there. I love that woman and I want people to see all the hard work she put into my costumes.

Mary Ellen Smith

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theatre? My first "live onstage" taste of theatre was in 1982 and Darryl Deason cast me as Gretel in The Sound of Music at The Cannon Community Playhouse, which is now The Arts Center of Cannon County. I was eight years old and looked four (I've always been short). One night when I was singing "So Long Farewell" at the festival, I got a standing ovation in the middle of the show! I thought that was the best thing on earth and I've been addicted to the applause ever since.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? My pre-show ritual has always been to say a prayer. Right before I go on stage I say a short prayer either with a group or just a silent one and it has always worked for me.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My most memorable "the show must go on" moment was around 1999 and we did The Secret Garden at The Arts Center of Cannon County. I was cast as Martha. In the middle of the run, I got mono! I had no voice, no energy but as soon as I hit the stage... I performed. Then I'd go backstage and collapse. If that one is not memorable enough, we did Smoke On the Mountain and without consulting the cast, they scheduled a performance the night after our wedding. We postponed our honeymoon a night so I could do the performance. My husband loves me.

What's your dream role? That is a difficult one. I'm now too old to be Eponine. I'm probably too old for Wicked. My only hope is to be cast as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly.

Who is your theatrical crush? I know I'd be great friends with Neil Patrick Harris but "just friends." My theatrical crush would HAVE to be my husband, Matt Smith. We met 17 years ago through theatre and continue to work well together.

Why should people come see your show? People should come see "Always, Patsy Cline" because I'm on stage the ENTIRE show. I actually hate the fact that I have to carry the show. I have so many monologues and I'm not good at memorizing lines. So...come see the show so I can prove to myself and you that I can do it.

About the show: Savannah Gannon and Mary Ellen Smith star in Arts Center of Cannon County's Always Patsy Cline, the award-winning play by Nashville's own Ted Swindley, running June 3-18 in Woodbury.

Always, Patsy Cline is described as "more than a tribute" to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963. The show is based on a true story about Cline's friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger. This fun-loving, crowd-pleasing musical features 27 classic songs, including "Crazy," "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams," "Back In Baby's Arms" and more.

"One day a voice from the television screen spoke to her. Louise Seger was hooked. Making a special trip to a honky-tonk bar in Houston, Texas, Louise met her idol, Patsy Cline. Here was a woman that gave her soul a voice. Over a pot of strong coffee, a friendship began that would last until Patsy's untimely death. Through letters and visits, the two share the homespun stories of laughter and heartache that brought together a housewife and a legendary country singer."

Directed by 2015 First Night Star Award winner Matt Smith, this production features Savannah Gannon as Patsy Cline and 2015 First Night Star Award winner Mary Ellen Smith as Louise Seger.

Tickets are $15 with discounts available for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling (615) 563-2787 Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or online at www.artscenterofcc.com and (subject to availability) at the door one hour prior to show time.

The Arts Center is located on 1424 John Bragg Highway, just west of the town of Woodbury, approximately 20 minutes from Murfreesboro, Manchester, and McMinnville and one hour southeast of Nashville.

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