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written and originally directed by Ted Swindley based on a true story. Always... Patsy Cline was presented at The Black Box
Theatre January 18-February 10, 2008 with the following production team. Director ~ Dale Pawley Scenic and Lighting Designer
~ Peter Herman Costumes ~ Stage Manager ~ Mark Hammersmith Producer ~Ceil Herman The Cast Janet Mazdra Patsy Cline Rachel Space Louise Seger Musicians Karen Warren Keyboard Tom Warren Guitar Production Team Mark Hammersmith Light/Sound Board Mike Dick and Naomi Rupp Backstage Crew Mike Cook and Toni Marie Publicity Kathi Jane House Manager Coordinator
Front (L to R): Rachel Space (Louise) and
Janet Mazdra (Patsy), Back (L to R): Karen Warren
(keyboard) and Tom Warren (guitar)
Music packs the
theater
Front (L to R): Janet Mazdra (Patsy), Back (L to R): Karen Warren (keyboard) and Tom Warren (guitar)
Some Background on
Patsy Cline and No Strings Theatre
Company’s Production of Always ... Patsy Cline by Mike Cook Cesár E.
Chávez Elementary School speech language pathologist Janet Mazdra will play
the title role in "Always … Patsy Cline," which opens Friday,
January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 10 at Black Box Theatre, 430 N.
Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. The
musical is based on a true story about the friendship between country music
singer Patsy Cline and her friend, Louise Seger, and is filled with Cline's
best-known songs. Patsy
Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932. She died in a
plane crash on March 5, 1963. In 1973, Cline became the first female solo
artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. "Walkin' After
Midnight" was her first big hit, in 1957. "I Fall to Pieces"
was her first #1 record, in 1961. "I
first got interested in this show when my friend, Rachel Space, first brought
this musical to my attention over a year and a half ago. She had always wanted
to play Louise in this show, and since I have always wanted to be a country
singer at heart, we felt like the role of Patsy Cline would be a perfect fit
for me," said Mazdra. "After
reading the script, I was definitely committed to this project. The Black Box
agreed to do the show and so began a fun journey to becoming Patsy. I've
never played a real person before, let alone someone with the legendary
status of Patsy Cline. The musical showcases Patsy's music as well as a fan's
view of who the country superstar really was on a more personal level,"
she said.
Front (L to R): Rachel Space (Louise) and Janet Mazdra (Patsy), Back (L to R): Karen Warren (keyboard) and Tom Warren (guitar) "There
are 27 Patsy Cline songs in the show and I'm excited to just get to sing so
many great tunes! As well, I have truly enjoyed working on this show with
Rachel Space, a very gifted local actress. Our friendship has grown so strong
during the course of rehearsing this show - equally as strong as the bonds of
friendship between Patsy and Louise in the show. It's been a true blessing to
have the opportunity to bring this show to the Mazdra was
mostly recently seen as Reno Sweeney in Las Cruces Community Theatre's 2007
production of "Anything Goes." She also has appeared for LCCT as
Sister Robert Anne in the Nunsense musicals and as Audrey in
"Little Shop of Horrors" and Ella in "Bells are Ringing."
At the Black Box Theatre, she played Emma in "Tell Me on a Sunday"
and starred in a one-woman March of Dimes fundraising show called "Wine,
Woman and Song." She also has appeared in professional theatre in at Six
Flags St. Louis and the Robert E. Lee Showboat Dinner Theatre, also in
L to R:
Janet Mazdra (Patsy) and Rachel
Space (Louise) Pawley
signed on as director of "Always...Patsy Cline" "when Janet Mazdra
asked me if I'd come on board to direct the musical sequences since the
person who was going to direct the show had no experience with musical
direction and needed assistance in that area. Having served as
assistant director for Oleanna'" last year, I had worked with Rachel
Space and very much wanted to work with her again. Janet and I already knew
that we worked well together - I've directed her in three other shows:
'Crimes of the Heart' (1998) and 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1999) for LCCT and
'Tell Me On a Sunday' (2002) for the Black Box Theatre. So we felt that this
would be a great collaboration. This has been one of the most enjoyable
theatrical experiences I've ever had, and the perfect show for me to get my
feet wet again after a nearly six-year break from directing. Janet and Rachel
and I, along with our musicians, Tom and Karen Warren, have a great chemistry
together, and the collaborative spirit in this show really shines through, in
my opinion," he said. "The response to this show has been
overwhelming, even though it hasn't opened yet. People seem to be
excited to see the play, and I've discovered that nearly everyone I talk to
about it seems to connect in some way to Patsy Cline's music. Almost
everybody I know has some personal memory or experience that involves a Patsy
Cline song, whether it's dancing to 'Crazy' with a girlfriend/boyfriend at a
dance, or finding a release of their emotions after a break-up while
listening to 'I Fall To Pieces.' I've only met one or two people who have not
heard of her, or are unfamiliar with her work, which is something I've never
encountered with any other musician or performer," said Pawley.
Pawley also directed "Deathtrap" in 1999 and "The Miracle
Worker" in 2002 for LCCT, and later this season will be directing
"Hello, Dolly!" for LCCT. Performances
of "Always … Patsy Cline" are at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays, January 18
and 25 and February 1 and 8; and Saturdays, January 19, 26 and February 2.
Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. on January 20 and 27 and February 3 and 10.
There is a Thursday, January 31 show at 7:00 p.m. and a Wednesday, February 6
show at 6:00 p.m. The February 9 show is sold out. Tickets for "Always … Patsy Cline" are $10 regular and $9 for students and seniors over 65. Thursday night tickets are $7. High school student rush tickets are available 10 minutes before all performances for $7 on a seat-available basis. Reservations are recommended and may be made by phone 575.523.1223 or online at http://www.no-strings.org
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