"Always.....Pasty Cline" Opens
Thursday Night For Two Week Run
at TAMU-C Playhouse

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Hopkins County girl, Lou Ann Higginbotham Petty, "lights up the stage" in her
rendition of the legend, Patsy Cline!

 

Editor's Note: We brought you the story about two young ladies from the Hopkins County town of Cumby, "lighting up the stage" in this spring's TAMU-C production of "Always....Patsy Cline," a couple of weeks ago. The two ladies, Lou Ann Petty and Amanda Barrow, play the lead of Patsy Cline, and the understudy part of Patsy. Well, we attended the press-dress rehearsal of the play on Wednesday night, and recommend that you hurry and get your tickets, as they are sure to be "sold out" performances. The play is absolutely wonderful and Petty captures the haunting voice of Patsy Cline, as she brings you a delightful two hours of the classic songs made popular by Cline, in the 1950's and early 1960's. You won't want to miss this one!

 

Patsy works with her "The Bodacious Bobcats Band," that were her "backup" at her appearance at the "Esquire Ballroom," outside Houston. All the musicians
are from across Northeast Texas, making a memorable appearance in this production.

 

It's the early 1960's, a time of protected "innocence" all across America, when in Houston, Texas, housewife, Louise (played by Samantha Grace), hears "Back In Baby's Arms" on the radio, as she washes dishes and tends to kids, and the hauntingly, coarse sound of Cline's voice captures her heart! A few weeks later, right on the black and white t.v. screen, (you remember the ones that "rolled" and had the "snowy backgrounds) on the "Arthur Godfrey Show!"

By coincidence, sometime later, Patsy's coming to Houston! She's to make an appearance at the "Esquire" Ballroom, out on the Hempstead Highway, and nothing, absolutely nothing, can keep Louise away!

 

 

Louise, her boyfriend, and boss, make it to the ballroom some two or three hours early, when no one else has even made it to the parking lot. But, the early arrival makes for a chance meeting between Louise and Patsy. The two ladies, with similar backgrounds, are instantly attracted to one another, and the night bonds a strong connection, that continues for the remainder of Cline's rise to Country and Western fame.

Cline and Louise share letters as the Female Country and Western star makes an indelible mark on Country and Western music, each promising the other, that they'll get together, soon!

 

Houston housewife, Louise, front, played by Samantha Grace, lends a comical and
lasting impression, throughout the Patsy Cline Story. On Sunday, February 28th,
Cassie Pennington, understudy from Mt. Pleasant, will be featured in the role of Louise.

 

However, it was the chilling realization that they'd never see each other again, this side of eternity, when Louise hears on the radio, on March 5, 1963, that Patsy, along with fellow Grand Ole Opry stars, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and their pilot, Randy Hughs, were killed when their small airplane crashed near Camden, Tennessee. Patsy was gone in person, but her music would live on, forever, in the hearts of her many fans.

 

 

 

Stunned by the death of "America's Country Sweetheart," the music continues today, with "Crazy," "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces," and "She's Got You," still selling and being developed by numerous other artists. The legend of Patsy Cline still lives on!

 

And, "Louise" grabbed Hopkins countian, Garland Hayes, from Wednesday night's audience
and "took him for a whirl" on the dance floor!

 

This spring's production of the Patsy Cline story opens on Thursday night, February 25th at 8:00! Performances will continue on Feb. 26th & 27th at 8:00 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 28th at 3:00 p.m., March 4-6th at 8:00 p.m., and a special Signature Performance for the Ray Price Scholarship Foundation, with a reception and an appearance by Price, on Sunday, March 7th. Tickets are on sale in the TAMU-C Box Office by calling (903)886-5900.

 

Steel guitar player, Kevin Eldridge, of Wolfe City, lends his talent as a
member of "The Bodacious Bobcats Band" as they re-create the sound of
Patsy Cline.

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