SRT Presents ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE September 18 – October 18

Sierra Repertory Theatre presents Always ... Patsy Cline at its Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Park, September 18 - October 18. The production follows a true account of a friendship that developed between the legendary country singer and a Houston housewife who was perhaps her most devoted fan. It's also chock-full of down-home humor and emotion.

"This show has more than music to it," director Becky Saunders said. "The relationship between the two women makes it very poignant. Hopefully there won't be a dry eye in the house."

Having first heard Cline on a radio show in 1957, housewife Louise Segar became a fan and constantly hounded her local disc jockey to play Cline's records. In 1961, when Segar attended a Patsy Cline concert, she and some friends arrived early and happened to meet the star, herself. The two women struck up a friendship and went on to exchange handwritten letters. It's this pen-pal relationship that forms the basis for the musical play. Patsy's letters were signed, "Always . . . Patsy Cline."

The two women continued their correspondence until Cline's death. It's an emotional moment, said Saunders, who happened to play Louise when playwright Ted Swindley directed the musical story in Scottsdale, Arizona. Swindley also wrote Honky Tonk Angels, which Saunders performed in earlier this year at the Fallon House Theatre.

Saunders, a regular actor and stage manager at Sierra Rep since 1994, also appeared as Mavis, the housewife with the hot flashes, in the popular Church Basement Ladies and Church Basement Ladies: A Second Helping. She most recently served as assistant stage manager for Sierra Rep's The Music Man.

According to American Theatre Magazine, Always . . . Patsy Cline is one of the most-produced musicals in the nation and has been staged internationally in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Sierra Rep's production features Yesenia McNett as Patsy Cline, the role for which she won the Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical. New York actress Laurie Dawn plays Louise. A live band will also join the two actresses for more than 20 songs including "Anytime," "Walkin' After Midnight," "She's Got You," "Sweet Dreams" and "Crazy."

"The music tugs at human emotion and allows us to release our sadness, happiness and anger," Saunders said.Always ... Patsy Cline runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 18 with performances Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; some Thursdays at 2 p.m. and some Thursdays at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $35 depending on the day of the week and time, with senior and student discounts available. For tickets and information, visit www.sierrarep.org or call the Box Office at 209-532-3120.