(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- 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.
Starring as Patsy is Reagan Richards, a renowned singer in her own right, who has sung with music greats such as Les Paul, Darlene Love, Ben E. King, Joan Jett, David Gray, Cheap Trick & many others. She is part of Williams Honor, the Jersey Shore’s first modern country duo, with multi-instrumentalist Gordon Brown. She begins work as Patsy in between her national radio tour, where she supporting their single, "Send It To Me," with performances all over the country 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 27 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. All of which will be recreated on the stage of the Lauren K. Woods Theatre at Monmouth University.
“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 8:00pm with Friday matinees at 2:00pm on July 8 and 15. For ticket information, call 732-263-6889 or go online at www.monmouth.edu/arts
Photo credit: TONETTE MADSEN
