Shadow Lawn Stage Set to Present ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE This July

Before Loretta and before Dolly, there was Patsy - Patsy Cline, whose hits like "Crazy" and "Sweet Dreams" heralded the cross-over of country music and pop. This summer, Shadow Lawn Stage, the professional theatre in residence at Monmouth University, will present Ted Swindley's ode to her: Always, Patsy Cline. The show will run for two weeks only, on the Monmouth campus, July 6 through July 16.

The show tells Patsy's story through the eyes and words of Louise Seger, a Texas housewife who starts out as a Patsy fan, becomes a pen pal, and then blossoms into an incredible friendship. Starring as Patsy is Reagan Richards, a singer in her own right, part of Williams Honor, the Jersey Shore's first modern country duo, with multi-instrumentalist Gordon Brown. She begins work as Patsy after returning from a gig in Nashville and several local concerts celebrating the recent release of their self-titled CD. Under the music direction of George Wurzbach - formerly of the folk group Modern Man and a member of the Monmouth faculty - Ms. Richards will sing many of the Patsy Cline standards, including "I Fall To Pieces", "Walking After Midnight" and 24 other tunes.

Under the direction of Maurice J. Moran, the role of Louise will be played by Katrina Ferguson, returning to Shadow Lawn after acclaimed performances in The Au Pair Man and Molly Sweeney. Ms. Ferguson recently won the Best Actress award at the Dorset Theatre Festival for her role of Eleanor of Aquitaine in Lion In Winter.

Louise tells her story by conjuring memories of where and when she fell in love with Cline's music: listening to the radio in her kitchen, meeting her at a local country bar, and seeing her live on stage with a band of country musicians. The set for Shadow Lawn's production is designed by Fred DelGuercio.

"This show will offer folks who remember Patsy Cline a chance to hear her music live and virtually in person," says Moran, "while giving a contemporary audience an idea of what she was like back in the 60s and why she is such a legend in country music."

Produced by Joe Rapolla, chair of the Music & Theatre Department, Always, Patsy Cline will be presented at the historic Woods Theatre on campus, July 6 through 9 and July 13 through 16 at 8 p.m. with Friday matinees at 2 p.m. on July 8 and 15. For ticket information, call 732-263-6889 or go online at www.monmouth.edu/arts