ALBANY, NY: Park Playhouse Inc. and newly formed year-round division Playhouse Stage Company continue its expanded series of productions as they open their 31st Season of programming in the Capital Region. The eight-show season, which will culminate with the 2019 summer series in Albany’s Washington Park and which features several additional special presentations, kicks off next Thursday, October 4, with the classic country musical Always… Patsy Cline. Once again staged at the historic Cohoes Music Hall after last season’s successful run, the production returns Oct. 4 through 14, 2018, with 8 p.m. performances Tuesday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
Always… Patsy Cline, written by Ted Swindley in 1992, is based on the true story of country music icon Patsy Cline’s friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. The relationship, which began as fan worship evolved into one of mutual respect and admiration over a series of years prior to the singer’s untimely death. The show combines humor, sadness and nostalgia alongside the beloved tunes of Ms. Cline (including such hits as “Crazy,” “Walkin After Midnight,” and “I Fall To Pieces,” among many others). It offers fans who remember Patsy Cline while she was alive a chance to look back, while giving newcomers an idea of what seeing her was like and what she meant to her original fans. The production received positive notices last year in area publications including The Times Union, Daily Gazette and The Alt. “We couldn’t be happier than to revisit this funny and touching production,” Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith said. “Many people were shut out of sold-out performances last year, and we are glad to give them a chance to enjoy the production this fall,” Smith continued.
Popular Playhouse veterans Benita Zahn and Molly Rose McGrath, both well-received in 2017’s original run, feature as Louise Seger and Patsy Cline respectively. Brian Axford, frequent Musical Director for the Playhouse, leads an authentic, six-piece country western band, dubbed in the show as “The Bodacious Bobcats,” complete with pedal steel and country fiddle. Park Playhouse General Manager Chuck Kraus returns to direct, after helming last year’s successful run at the Music Hall. Timothy Clow has designed the multi-tiered set for the production.
Tickets are on sale to the general public. Tickets are $27 ($17 for students 17 and under), and are available online through parkplayhouse.com, by calling the Cohoes Music Hall box office Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at (518) 953-0630, or at the door at the Cohoes Music Hall from two hours prior to each showtime. Subscriptions for the season are on sale at www.parkplayhouse.com.
The Playhouse Stage Company season continues in November with a new production of the hit musical Million Dollar Quartet, featuring the music of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Park Playhouse summer season in Washington Park in 2019 will feature the popular musicals In the Heights and Disney’s Newsies.
