A tragic plane crash cut short country singer Patsy Cline's brilliant career in 1963. She was just 30 years old. Cline went on to become a legend and was the first female solo artist elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The musical Always…Patsy Cline, now making its 25th anniversary, by Ted Swindley, is based on actual events. The show charts the songs and life of the famed singer and has been wowing crowds since 1988.
This production of Always stars Melodie Smith as Patsy and Susan O. Koozin as Louise Seger. Always is set in Houston and chronicles the friendship between the singer and Seger, who was Cline's devoted fan and close friend. The two women accidentally met during Cline's stop here and went on to exchange letters for the rest of Patsy's life. The show’s soundtrack features a total of 27 of Cline's hit songs, including ''Crazy,'' ''I Fall to Pieces,'' ''Sweet Dreams'' and ''Walking After Midnight.''
Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin says, ''Patsy endures because this story belongs to Houston. It is a wonderful window into the past, into our love of celebrity and into the pluck of Southern women.'' Of course, the long roster of some of the best country music songs ever also adds to the appeal.
