By Staff
Special to The Star
April 29, 2001
Patsy Cline's legend will come alive at Meridian Little Theatre Thursday evening with "Always … Patsy Cline."
The popular musical will be presented through May 9 at the highway 39 North playhouse. Jimmy Pigford is director.
Since her untimely death in 1963, Patsy Cline has seemed to hold a fascination for music fans. Her songs appeal to lovers of country music as well as those who normally wouldn't care for it. Compilations of her hit songs are perpetual strong sellers, and movies and stage shows about her all-too-short life have been critical and popular successes.
The two-hour show features music and acting and tells the story of a fan (portrayed by Sidney Covington) who gets to have an encounter with Cline (portrayed by Angela White), her musical idol. The show features 22 of Cline's best-known hits, including "Crazy," "Sweet Dreams" and "Walking After Midnight."
The musical is suitable for the whole family. Curtain time is 8 Thursday through Wednesday; 2 p.m. for the Sunday, May 5 matinee.
Tickets are: $16, adults; and $14, students (18), senior citizens (65) and military. Individuals purchasing memberships for the 2001-02 season can buy a guest ticket for "Always" for $5.
The Meridian Little Theatre Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 482-6371.
Patsy Cline, 1932-1963
One of the all-time legends of country music, Patsy Cline was born Virginia Hensley on Sept. 8, 1932, in Virginia.
Always spunky and devoted to music, she quit school at the age of 15 to work in a drug store and help support her single mother and sister. In return, her mother dedicated her spare time to helping Patsy's career, and drove her to Nashville when she was only 16 for her first Grand Ole Opry audition.
Patsy was never shy about self-promotion and impressed everyone the moment they hear her. Ironically, her musical talent was never really rewarded until "Walkin' After Midnight," which was recorded 10 years after she had begun singing professionally. Her incredible rendition of this song on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts in 1957 not only won the contest, but also finally set her on the road to the acclaim she deserved.
It was followed four years later by the memorable "I Fall To Pieces." Then came "Crazy" (by Willie Nelson), "She's Got You," "Leavin' On Your Mind," "Sweet Dreams" and "Faded Love." Her last single release was "A Closer Walk With Thee." She realized her lifetime ambition of joining The Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and won 10 awards at the WSM radio station Country Music Festival before her death.
In the early 1960s, Patsy's life began settling down just as her career began to pick up. Two children, a dream home and a stack of hit records were finally hers, but she would not be able to enjoy them long. Cline died in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, while trying to hurry back to her family after a benefit concert in Kansas City.
Patsy's music popularity is witnessed by the fact that she is the No. 1 juke box play in the world. Her "Greatest Hits" album has been in first place for over 200 weeks on Billboards's "Top Country Catalog Albums."