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On Friday evening, October 2, the Sherman Community Players’ will open their new 2009-2010 Season with the country western musical ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE, written by Ted Swindley. Based on a true story, the play follows the beginning and continuing friendship between the late country superstar and a devoted fan from Houston named Louise Seger..
The Players originally presented the show in 1999, and it was an immediate sell-out. It was brought back several months later and played to SRO crowds, then returned again in the summer for the annual fundraising benefit held in the municipal ballroom. According to SCP managing director Ron Cassady, ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE has been one of the most requested shows by area theatre patrons. Says Cassady, “It’s a perfect combination of great country music and hilarious comedy.”
Providing the music as Patsy Cline is Julie Johnson, who has portrayed the country superstar all over the country in productions of ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE and A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY. Miss Johnson is a native of Whitewright and a graduate Austin College and in 1980 played Anna in SCP’s production of THE KING & I. Since then she has gone on to perform on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in numerous regional theatres throughout the country.
Providing the laughs, is Karen Schuth of Denison, cast in the role of the adoring fan. Schuth is a local favorite among SCP theatergoers, having peformed in numerous comedies and musicals. Most audiences recognize her as the character “June” from the SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN trilogy of the past three seasons. Audiences fell in love with the sister in the gospel-singing family that couldn’t sing, but instead made up for it by signing all the songs with hilarious made-up movements.
Playing over twenty Patsy Cline songs will be band members Ben Vincent from Tom Bean on steel guitar and fiddle, and from Sherman, Fred Freeman on bass fiddle and Frank Steele on drums. Playing electric guitar is Michael Williams from Savoy, and rounding out the band is Dan Althoff from Durant on piano. Scottie Johnson is the music director and Chessica Burton serves as stage manager.
ALAWAYS, PATSY CLINE plays October 2 through 25 in the Finley Theatre at 500 N. Elm in Sherman. Performances are held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced from $7 to $14, and reservations may be made by calling the box office at 903-892-8818 or by coming to the box office in the Honey McGee Playhouse, located directly behind the Finley Theatre. Group rates are available by calling Darlene Schweizer at 903-893-7652.
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