(L-R) Susan O. Koozin as Louise Seger and Julia Kay Laskowski as Patsy Cline. Photo by Bruce Bennett.
STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE
www.stagestheatre.com
ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE
BEGINS AN OPEN - ENDED RUN AT STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE
Patsy Cline fans "will be in heaven," writes Everett Evans of the Houston Chronicle
(L-R) Susan O. Koozin as Louise Seger and Julia Kay Laskowski as Patsy Cline. Photo by Bruce Bennett.
Your Cheatin Heart
By Hank Williams
Your cheating heart will make you weep,
You'll cry and cry, and try to sleep,
But sleep won't come the whole night through?
Your cheating heart will tell on you.
When tears come down like fallin rain,
You'll toss around and call my name ~
You'll walk the floor the way I do,
Your cheating heart will tell on you.
When tears come down like fallin rain,
You'll toss around and call my name ~
You're gonna walk the floor the very way I do,
Your cheating heart is gonna tell on you
STAGES EXTENDS HIT SHOW FOR AN OPEN - ENDED RUN
When we say
Always...Patsy Cline
we mean ALWAYS!
HOUSTON, TX - In response to overwhelming public demand, Stages Repertory
Theatre will extend the run of Always...Patsy Cline through Sunday, October 26, 2003.
Tickets are now available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances
only, at the same anniversary price of $25 for reserved seating. Group
rates are available.
"This show is a crowd pleaser from start to finish, and the crowds just
keep coming," commented Stages' Managing Director Kenn McLaughlin. "But more
than being a delight for our audiences, the show is something we are really
proud of and we're thrilled to be able to continue the run. It's absolutely
the last extension we can offer - and I'm sure we'll leave Houston
audiences wanting more!"
Always...Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Cline's friendship with
Houston housewife Louise Seger, a devoted fan who met Cline while she was
performing in Houston. After an evening of singing and soul searching,
Seger and Cline began a friendship that lasted until the star's death in
1963. Always...Patsy Cline includes over 20 of Cline's songs performed on
stage with a live band, and explores - through Cline's letters and Seger's
commentary - the humor, sadness, and mutual respect the two women shared.
Always...Patsy Cline will run concurrently with Stages' MainStage season
opener, Recent Tragic Events by Craig Wright, running in Stages' Arena
Theater October 1 - 26, 2003
The 25th anniversary production of Always...Patsy Cline builds upon Stages'
reputation as an innovative theatre that inspires an active engagement with
its audiences. Now in its 25th season, Stages has introduced the world,
national and regional premieres of innovative contemporary plays to
audiences in Houston and surrounding areas. Stages is a member of the
Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 15 arts organizations that work
collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in
Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the
national service organization for not-for-profit theatres. Stages operates
under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of
professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE FACT SHEET
MAINSTAGE: ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE
Written and Originally Directed by Ted Swindley
DIRECTOR: Jimmy Phillips
CAST:
Patsy Cline……………….. Julia Kay Laskowski
Louise Seger………………….. Susan O. Koozin
BAND:
Robin Borthwick…………………………..…. Drums
Bill Lucas …………………..Upright and electric bass
Herb Remington/ Dusty Carole …….Pedal steel guitar
Patricia Rabaza …………………………..……..Piano
Joshua Syña ……………………………Electric guitar
PRODUCTION:
Musical Director …………………….Patricia Rabaza
Scenic Designer………………………Travis Johnson
Lighting Designer……………………….Erica Forsch
Costume Designer ……………………..Pam Nunnally
Sound Designer…………………………..Ellis Stewart
Properties Designer ………………..…Jodi Bobrovsky
Production Stage Manager……………..Julie Bromann
DATES: OPEN ENDED RUN THROUGH 2004
TIMES:
Friday and Saturday…………… 8:00 p.m.
Sunday…………………………. 3:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $25, reserved seating
DISCOUNTS: Group Tickets: $20 for groups of 10 or more.
No other discounts available.
BOX OFFICE: 713.527.0123
3201 Allen Parkway at Waugh Drive
Tickets available online at www.stagestheatre.com
HOUSTON, TX - Always…Patsy Cline came on in, sat right down, and made itself at home in Stages' Yeager Theater. The
production, hailed by sold-out crowds and nightly standing ovations, will extend by six weeks to close on Sunday, September
28, 2003. Ticket prices throughout the run will remain $25 for all seats; general admission seating is available through August
17, and reserved seating is available for performances August 20 - October 26, 2003. Group rates are available.
The Houston Chronicle's Everett Evans writes "[Julia Kay] Laskowski's singing as Cline gives the show distinction…with
outstanding renditions of Sweet Dreams, Crazy, I Fall To Pieces and many others." The Houston Press' Lee Williams also
praises Laskowski, saying she "sings with a smoky, dark Patsy Cline sound-alike voice if ever there was one." Of Susan O.
Koozin, who plays Cline's fan Louise, Williams writes "Koozin burns through her hysterical performance like a woman on fire,
turning Swindley's simple confection into a spicy summer romp of hand-clappin', foot-stompin', hootin', hollerin', Texas-sized
laughs that shouldn't be missed…"
"This is an awesome moment for us," commented Stages' Managing Director Kenn McLaughlin. "The community has
embraced this show, and we are responding by giving them every opportunity to come see it." Always…Patsy Cline is based
on the true story of Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger, a devoted fan who met Cline while she was
performing in Houston. After an evening of singing and soul searching, Seger and Cline began a friendship that lasted until the
star's death in 1963. Always…Patsy Cline includes over 20 of Cline's songs performed on stage with a live band, and
explores - through Cline's letters and Seger's commentary - the humor, sadness, and mutual respect the two women shared.
Always…Patsy Cline, which premiered at Stages in 1988, builds upon Stages' reputation as an innovative theatre that inspires
an active engagement with its audiences. Now in its 25th season, Stages has introduced world, national and regional premieres
of innovative contemporary plays to audiences in Houston and surrounding areas. Stages is a member of the Fresh Arts
Coalition, a collaboration of 15 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts
in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit
theatres. Stages operates under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and
stage managers in the United States.
STAGES MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SENSATIONAL
SUMMER MUSICAL
Founding artistic director Ted Swindley to be honored at opening of Always…Patsy Cline
HOUSTON, TX - Always…Patsy Cline, one of the most often performed stage productions in the U.S., makes a triumphant
return to Stages Repertory Theatre - where it had its world premiere - to kick off the theatre's 25th anniversary season. In
recognition of the milestone, Stages' founding Artistic Director Ted Swindley will be honored at the opening night
performance. The play, called "remarkably affecting and unusual" by The Wall Street Journal and "an evening of down-home
nostalgia…with a true touch of Cline in the night" by Clive Barnes of the New York Post, runs July 9 - August 17, 2003 in
Stages' Yeager Theater. All tickets are a nostalgic $25, and all seats are general admission.
"Always…Patsy Cline premiered as a one-act play on July 11, 1988 at the theatre's current facility. "The show was an
anecdote about Patsy playing in Houston, and it turned out to be one of the most produced shows in America," commented
Swindley, who wrote and originally directed the play. "It all started at Stages." Always…Patsy Cline is based on the true story
of Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger, a devoted fan who met Cline while she was performing in
Houston. After an evening of singing and soul searching, Seger and Cline began a friendship that lasted until the star's death in
1963. Always…Patsy Cline includes over 20 of Cline's songs performed on stage with a live band, and explores - through
Cline's letters and Seger's commentary - the humor, sadness, and mutual respect the two women shared.
(L-R) Susan O. Koozin as Louise Seger and Julia Kay Laskowski as Patsy Cline. Photo by Bruce Bennett.
"This lovely play is so Houston-centric," said Stages' Artistic Director Rob Bundy. "That the story takes place in this city is
great fun for our audiences; that the play premiered here reflects what Stages has always strived to do, which is to give local
artists a place to shine." Cast in the title role is local favorite Julia Kay Laskowski. A graduate of the California Institute of the
Arts, Laskowski also studied at the Manhattan School of Music and runs a private studio in Houston. Her operatic
performances include roles in Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, and Carmen; her musical credits include
Follies at the Alley. Susan O. Koozin, last seen as Mae West in Stages' Dirty Blonde, completes the cast in the role of Louise
Seger. Jimmy Phillips, who recently appeared in The Big Bang at Theater LaB, is making his Stages' directorial debut.
The presentation of Always…Patsy Cline builds upon Stages' reputation as an innovative theatre that inspires an active
engagement with its audiences. Now entering its 25th season, Stages has introduced world, national and regional premieres of
innovative contemporary plays to audiences in Houston and surrounding areas. Stages is a member of the Fresh Arts
Coalition, a collaboration of 15 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts
in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit
theatres. Stages operates under an agreement with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and
stage managers in the United States.
###
STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE FACT SHEET
MAINSTAGE: ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE
Written and Originally Directed by Ted Swindley
DIRECTOR: Jimmy Phillips
CAST: Patsy Cline Julia Kay Laskowski
Louise Seger Susan O. Koozin
(Foreground) Susan O. Koozin as Louise Seger; (Background) Julia Kay Laskowski as Patsy Cline. Photo by Bruce Bennett.
PRODUCTION: Musical Director Patricia Rabaza
Scenic Designer Travis Johnson
Lighting Designer Erica Forsch
Costume Designer Pam Nunnally
Sound Designer Ellis Stewart
Properties Designer Jodi Bobrovsky
Production Stage Manager Julie Bromann
DATES: Previews: Wednesday, July 9 and Thursday, July 10
Opening: March, 4, 2004
Close: Open - Ended Run
TIMES: Opening Night: 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 7:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 3:00 p.m.
TICKETS: Previews: $25 (July 9 & 10)
Regular: $25
DISCOUNTS: Group Tickets: $20 for groups of 10 or more. No other discounts available.
BOX OFFICE: 713.527.0123
3201 Allen Parkway at Waugh Drive
Tickets available online at www.stagestheatre.com