Always, Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. Upon hearing Patsy Cline on the "Arthur Godfrey Show" for the first time in 1957, Louise Seger became an immediate and avid fan of Cline's. She constantly hounded the local disc jockey to play Cline's records on the radio.

In 1961 when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her buddies arrived about an hour-and-a-half early and, by coincidence, met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger's house--a friendship that lasted until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash in 1963.

The relationship, which began as fan worship evolved into one of mutual respect. It is the kind of relationship that many fans would like to have with their heroes. Over a pot of strong coffee, the two women chatted about their common concerns. When Cline finally left for Dallas, her next job, the two women had exchanged addresses and telephone numbers. Seger never expected to hear from Cline again, but soon after she left, Seger received the first of many letters and phone calls from Cline. The pen-pal relationship provides much of the plot of the show.

The play focuses on the fateful evening at Houston's Esquire Ballroom when Seger hears of Cline's death in a plane crash. Seger supplies a narrative while Cline floats in and out of the set singing tunes that made her famous - Anytime, Walkin' After Midnight, She's Got You, Sweet Dreams, and Crazy - to name a few.

The show combines humor, sadness and reality. It offers fans who remember Cline while she was alive a chance to look back, while giving new fans an idea of what seeing her was like and what she meant to her original fans.

SALLY STRUTHERS (Louise) is a two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner for her performance in the groundbreaking series “All in the Family.” She starred in the Fox television series “9 to 5” and her own CBS series “Gloria.” Her recurring roles include the CBS comedy “Still Standing” and the CW’s highly acclaimed “Gilmore Girls.” Sally was “heard” as the voice of the teenage dinosaur Charlene Sinclair in the ABC prime-time series “Dinosaurs.” She is the voice of Pebbles Flintstone on the “Pebbles and Bam-Bam” cartoon series and the lead female character on the popular Disney cartoon “Tailspin.” Sally co-starred in two legendary motion pictures in the 70s: “Five Easy Pieces” with Jack Nicholson and “The Getaway” with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. She was featured in two independent films: “Out of the Black” and “A Month of Sundays” with Rod Steiger. Sally made a cameo appearance for actor/writer/producer Mario Van Peebles in the Sony feature “Baadassss!” Sally’s first two Broadway forays were in Wally’s Café with Rita Moreno and Jimmy Coco and in Neil Simon’s female version of The Odd Couple with Brenda Vaccaro. For three years she starred as Miss Mamie Lynch on Broadway and on tour in the Tommy Tune production of Grease. In the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Annie, Sally played the coveted role of Miss Hannigan. She was named Best Actress by the Los Angeles Artistic Director Theatre Awards for her role as Louise Seger in the musical, Always...Patsy Cline. She won the 2003 and 2010 Ovation Awards as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performances as Agnes Gooch in Mame, and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella respectively. She has starred in regional productions of Hello, Dolly!, Anything Goes, The Fifth of July, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, All Shook Up, The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Drowsy Chaperone, and Curtains. For thirty years, Struthers has worked to help hungry and uneducated children everywhere visiting these children in the United States and many Third World countries. She's filmed numerous public service announcements and documentaries on their behalf. Her favorite child is her daughter Sam.

CARTER CALVERT (Patsy Cline) is best known for originating her role in the Tony nominated, It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues on Broadway. The New York Times wrote, “Carter Calvert effervesces: her voice echoes chimes in the night” and “Her smoldering grip on “Fever” is positively dangerous”. She was last seen as the title role in the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of Always, Patsy Cline. New York credits include the Broadway, Original Cast Album and touring productions of It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues. Off-Broadway she appeared in Forbidden Broadway and The Thing About Men at the Promenade Theatre. Ms. Calvert toured Europe in Smokey Joe's Café, played Grizabella in the Broadway national tour of Cats. She appeared in the World Premiere of Forbidden Vegas in a role she originated as the title role in Always Patsy Cline. Ms. Calvert can also be seen in theaters all around the country in Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway. Regional credits include: IANBTB at Denver Center Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Crossroads Theatre Company, New Victory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theater. Sunday in the Park with George at Arena Stage, Unsung Cole….and Classics too and A Grand Night for Singing at Cleveland Playhouse, Honky Tonk Angels at the Cincinnati Playhouse at the Park, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Theatre By The Sea (Rhode Island) and Kiss Me Kate at Theatre Under The Stars (Houston). Television credits include: The David Letterman Show, Rosie O'Donnell Show, and The Today Show. She has opened for Liza Minnelli, The Temptations, Chubby Checker and Marilyn McCoo. In 1993, she was named Best Female Vocalist of the Year by Starsong Records. Downbeat Magazine named her Best Female Jazz Vocalist while she was still in high school. Ms. Calvert is also an accomplished voice-over artist and can be seen in numerous national commercials including Wendy’s, Voom, MTV, and Charles Schwab. She is currently the voice of Kindle Fire. Carter Calvert's new CD, Carter Calvert and the Roger Cohen Trio, which debuted at number 13 on the CMJ national Jazz charts, is available for purchase in the lobby, on CD Baby, on iTunes, and at www.cartercalvert.com.

DAVID GALLIGAN (Director) most recently directed Rita Moreno’s one person show, My Life Without Makeup at Berkeley Rep; and Fruit Fly, written by and starring Leslie Jordan at the Celebration Theatre. He also directed the off-Broadway and London productions of My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, also written by and starring Leslie Jordon. Other credits include Songs, Tyne Daly’s rave reviewed nightclub debut at Feinstein’s in New York City, as well as The 2nd Time Around, which kicked off Feinstein’s 10th Anniversary Season. Among past efforts are productions of Falsettos for the Actor’s fund and Leslie Jordan’s solo piece, Like a Dog On Linoleum. He directed the world premiers of Scott Martin’s Children Of The Night and Tim Turner’s Out Late in Los Angeles. He wrote and staged Valarie Pettiford’s one-woman shows, Hear My Soul and Finding My Voice. Past works include Always Patsy Cline with Sally Struthers, and Rod McKuen in Concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He co-created and directed the musical review Blame It On The Movies, which played off-Broadway. He later repeated the staging for a Pasadena Playhouse production. Other Playhouse productions include Lettice and Lovage, with Jane Carr and Mary Jo Catlett, Alone Together with Nancy Dussault, The Lion in Winter with Carole Cook and Tom Troupe, The Gay 90s Musical (Celebration), Blame It On The Movies II, Cabaret, Angry Housewives, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, Fortune And Men’s Eyes, Slings and Eros, Filumena, Trouble In Tahiti, Triplets In Uniform, Jesus Christ Superstar, Falsettos, Gifts Of The Magi and Lullaby Of Broadway. He is the recipient of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Lifetime Achievement Award. David has produced and directed Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event for the past 28 years; the longest running AIDS Benefit in the world.

KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) is no stranger to the Ogunquit Playhouse and is currently celebrating his seventh season. He has music directed such hits as Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, The Producers, Chicago, Sunset Blvd., La Cage aux Folles, and Guys and Dolls, and many others. After 12 years in New York City, he now divides his time between The Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, FL and Ogunquit. He has taught at NYU. He has written music for Kristin Chenoweth and John Tartaglia, has had four musicals produced, and has had the opportunity to coach Ms. Jennifer Hudson on her audition for Dreamgirls. Ken is thrilled to be bringing Patsy’s music to life again and to be working with his new friends, David and Carter, and his old pal, Sally.

MICHAEL SEBASTIAN (Music Director): Originally from Lancaster, PA, he became at the age of 12, the youngest person ever to join the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He attended University of Michigan, where he was Principal Cellist of the University Symphony Orchestra and The Toledo Symphony. Graduating college at 20, he became the youngest Principal Cellist of The Florida West Coast Symphony and member of The Florida String Quartet. He played under conductors Eugene Ormandy, Zubin Mehta, Arthur Fiedler, Mitch Miller, and Yehudi Menhuin. He has played Carnegie Hall (NY), The Academy of Music (Philadelphia) and Ford Theatre (Washington, D.C.) in concert tours with artists such as Bernadette Peters, George Benson, Red Skelton, Johnny Mathis, Paige O’Hara and Smokey Robinson. He served on the faculties of Interlochen National Music Camp, The University of South Florida, The University of Tampa, and the Bennington Chamber Music Festival. Sebastian has devoted the past 18 years to theatrical music directing, and has over 150 regional credits to his name. Besides holding Resident Musical Director positions at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre and Artistic Director at East Village Cabaret, he is a regular at the two-time Tony Award winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the oldest professional summer stock theatre in the country, Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Sebastian has also been chosen to work extensively on new show development with the pre-Broadway run of “A Tale of Two Cities” at the Asolo Theater in Sarasota, and Kathy Lee Gifford’s “Party Animals” and “Wonderland” by the creative team of Jekyll & Hyde, as part of the Genesis Project at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

MARY K. GABRYNSIAK (Production Stage Manager) Mary has worked in theater as a stage manager and producer for over 20 years in Wisconsin, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and now Maine. Some of her recent credits include: The 26th, 27th, and 28th Annual S.T.A.G.E. Benefits Original Cast 1, Original Cast 2 and Original Cast 3; Fruit Fly at Celebration Theatre; Murder for Two, A Killer Musical at 42nd Street Moon; It Ain’t All Confetti at The El Portal Theatre; The Beebo Brinker Chronicals, Over the Mountain, and Machinal at Brava! For Women in the Arts; ReOrient Festival with Golden Thread Productions; and Help is on the Way XV, XVI, and XVII with the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation.

BRANDFORD T. KENNY (Executive Artistic Director) now in his sixth season in stewardship of “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre,” Mr Kenney is proud to include many wonderful theatrical productions and the guidance of some of the most significant theatre companies in New England as part of his career. Some Ogunquit highlights include last season’s Sunset Blvd starring Stefanie Powers and the all-star production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, as well as My Fair Lady, Les Misérables, Hairspray,Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly!, Andrea McArdle in Cabaret, and Leslie Uggams in Cinderella. While at Foothills Theatre in Worcester, MA, he produced many shows including: Miss Saigon, Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Proof, Cabaret(National Regional Premiere), Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Dick and Jimmy Van Patten in The Sunshine Boys, Titanic The Musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Regional Premiere), Macbeth, Ten Little Indians, Chicago, Gypsy, Our Town, and Ragtime. He is also founder of the Wachusett Theatre Company in Massachusetts with shows such as The Sound of Music, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Disney/Elton John’s AIDA (Northeast Regional Premiere), Ted Lange from “The Love Boat” in Damn Yankees; and Eddie Mekka in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. His children’s theatres have produced Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, Seussical TYA (Northeast Premiere), Willy Wonka Jr, and Disney’s 101 Dalmations Kids, and the new production, Fairy Houses, The Musical. In addition to his producing credits, Brad has appeared on stage in the title role of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcererwith Salisbury Lyric Opera, Strephon in Iolanthe with the Savoyard Light Opera, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Barrett the Stoker in Titanic, Eric Burling in An Inspector Calls, Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap, Bobby in Company, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, the King in The King and I, Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! and Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as many other roles in shows throughout New England. He is a fourth generation artist, having studied at Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art. For Tucker, Max, and Ryan Francis Curtis.

JAYME MCDANIEL (Associate Producer) Jayme is enjoying his 2nd season as Associate Producer with Ogunquit Playhouse. His history with the playhouse commenced in 2001 when he appeared in 42nd Street, then in 2009 he directed and choreographed and received an IRNE nomination for his efforts. Previously he acted as the Associate Artistic Director at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN where he had the fortunate opportunity to produce and direct several highly acclaimed and commercially successful productions. As a Stage Director he directed/choreographed Joseph…at North Shore Music Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, Yankee Doodle and The Rocky Horror Show at the Ordway; The Student Prince at Paper Mill Playhouse; Zorba & H.M.S. Pinafore for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Violet, Candide & Drood with Connecticut Repertory; It’s a Fabulous Life, Chicago, Zombie Prom, The Merry Widow, People Like Us, They’re Playing Our Song and many others. As an Associate Director and/or Choreographer: Laughing Room Only (Broadway), White Christmas, Wonderful Town, Sound of Music, (5th Ave Theatre), Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave), Dallas Summer Musicals (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He’s also enjoyed a career on the stage as well. Most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing. In 2007 the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical.

CAMBPBELL BAIRD (Scenic Designer) has designed for Broadway One Mo’ Time; Merrimack Repertory Theatre Tranced, Fabuloso, A Picasso, The Persian Quarter, and Mrs. Whitney; Phoenix Theatre Sonya – world premiere with Julie Harris; The Old Globe Somewhere – world premiere; Huntington Theatre Company Candide; Spoleto USA The Singing Child – world premiere of Gian–Carlo Menotti’s last opera; North Shore Music Theatre JC Superstar, Crazy for You, The Producers, Gypsy,and Joseph…Dreamcoat. He designed five national/international productions of West Side Story (threepersonally supervised by Jerome Robbins). He has designed for Nashville Ballet, Texas Ballet Theatre, and was resident designer for Joffrey Ballet. He supervised productions for his mentors Oliver Smith Joffrey Nutcracker and Fall River Legend for Covent Garden; and Desmond Heeley - The Circle (on Broadway with Rex Harrison and Glynis Johns) and last season’s Tony winning production of The Importance of Being Earnest at Roundabout Theatre Company. He is an Associate Arts Professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, teaching theatre and film history, costume drawing and presentation. He is a member of USA Local 829, serving as an exam judge for scenic and costume design and scenic painting. He lives in New York City and Phillipsburg, NJ.

RICH LATTA (Lighting Designer) has worked in lighting and related fields in the New York area since the mid 80s., working on Off-Broadway shows, fashion shows, and events of many kinds around NYC. He quickly began designing lighting on his own- and as an associate to other designers. He spent five years with Hasbro as a Lighting Director for their 23rd Street showroom (the current Home Depot). For the past 25 years he has designed countless musicals and plays for both Off-Broadway and Regional theatres . In 1987 he became resident designer for the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, a position he continues with the present 2012 season, which is the theatres’ 80th. In the 1990s he balanced theatre work with a ton of corporate events and industry shows as a Lighting Designer, Production Manager and Producer on shows for IBM, General Motors, Apple, Dannon, Kraft General Foods, Merril Lynch, Union Carbide and more. He also enjoys assisting Projection Designer Elaine McCarthy- on the recent productions of Thurgood (Broadway, Kennedy Center, Mark Taper), Distractred (Mark Taper) The People In The Picture (Bway 2011), and the hit opera Moby Dick (debut 2009) currently appearing around the world. As an instructor, he has worked with ABT at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and Newark Arts High on dance programs since 2003. And his leadership position at Ogunquit Playhouse has allowed him the chance to help train a generation of technicians and designers working on Broadway and beyond. Recently lit productions: Ogunquit 2011 season, Cabaret at Maltz Jupiter in FL, The Snow Queen in MA Truman Capotes’ Holiday Memories in PA Smokey Joes’ Café in Waterbury CT.

JEREMY OLEKSA (Sound Designer) is extremely excited to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse for his 4th season. His show credits include: Man of La Mancha, Damn Yankees, Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, Sound of Music, Music Man, and Miss Saigon. On his most recent production, he was the Engineer on the National Tour of The Color Purple. Jeremy would like to thank all his friends and family for their continued support, especially his wife Becky Oleksa.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) returns for his fifth season supervising the wonderful sets that grace the Ogunquit Playhouse stage. In addition to his management skills, Geof brings a hands-on knowledge of the workings of stage scenery and mechanics, carpentry and welding, and is now taking on some design and re-design credits, most particularly with last season’s Chicago. Geof also serves as the Technical Supervisor for our Children’s Theatre shows. For the past four winters he has been the Assistant Technical Director at the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre in Florida. Having grown up in a theatrical family (his mother a Theater educator, his father a professional actor/director) he continues the tradition here. His wife, Cheryl, is the Charge Scenic Artist and his daughter Ashlynn is an active participant in the Children’s Theatre.

STEVE WELDON (Costume Shop Supervisor and Wig Designer) costumes have been his game from Barbara Mattera’s in NYC to the high seas for Royal Caribbean and just about everything in between. He had a custom design costume studio in Fort Lauderdale where he created origin costumes for professional wrestlers to custom made gowns for private clients. He now calls Tampa his home. He’s looking forward to exploring the wonders of Ogunquit Maine between shows.

TED SWINDLEY (Author and Original Director) has directed and/or produced over 200 plays for over 20 years. Some of his outstanding directorial credits include world premieres, classics and musicals including CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, PACIFIC OVERTURES FOLLIES, and CAT ON A HIT TINE ROOF, along with rotating repertory projects such as Havel’s THE MEMORANDUM with Giradoux’s THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT, Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN, and LES LIAISONS DANGERUSES with THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Ted was named to Esquire Magazine’s register of Americans for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Letters, and was featured in Southern Living Magazine. In 2007, he was a keynote speaker at the Southwestern Theatre Conference. He was also the recipient of the Los Angeles Dramalogue Award for his outstanding direction and nominated for the Los Angeles Critics Award for his work at the Pasadena Playhouse. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Stages Repertory Theatre, the second largest theatre in Houston, Texas. There he implemented such diverse programming as the Texas Playwrights Festival, for which he won national recognition in 1986 from the Wall Street Journal and Backstage Magazine. Best known for creating the hit musical, ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, which was one of the top ten shows produced across the country in 1998, he has also directed in over 60 theatres. THE HONKY TONK ANGELS is his latest hit, and he has completed the trilogy with THE HONKY TONK ANGELS HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR and BUBBA’S REVENGE, (which can be done independently of each other). He has just recently premiered his latest work, BACHELOR PAD, in New York City, and completed a Southern adaptation of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, entitled THE IMPORTANCE OF BEIN’ EARNEST, and a play, STORIES MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME, which had its premiere in Kansas City, MO in January 2008. He is an active member of the Dramaturgists Guild and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and is a member of the Playwrights/Directors Workshop at the famed Actors Studio in New York City.

GORDON DEVINNEY (Ms. Calvert’s Costumes) CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE: Tigers Be Still (2012), Always … Patsy Cline (2011, League of Cincinnati Theatres Award), The Pavilion (2011), The Piano Teacher (2011), The Understudy (2010), Victoria Musical (2009), Sleuth (2009), Marry Me A Little(2009), Love Song (2008), Doubt (2008), Murderers (2007), Reckless (2007), This Wonderful Life(2006), Yellowman (2006), The Clean House (2006), A Picasso (2004), Sing Hallelujah! (2004), Hiding Behind Comets (2004), The Smell of the Kill (2003), Proof (2003), Barbara’s Blue Kitchen (2002), Men on the Take (2002), God’s Man in Texas (2001), Shakespeare’s R&J (2000), Wit (2000), Barrymore(1999), Red Corners (1999), The Woman in Black (1998), Coyote on a Fence (1998), Nixon’s Nixon(1997), Valley Song (1997), The Turn of the Screw (1997), Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (1995). INTERNATIONAL: Nixon’s Nixon, Edinburgh Festival, Toronto, London’s West End. REGIONAL: God of Carnage, Sleuth, God’s Man in Texas, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Doubt, Actors Theatre of Louisville; The Woman in Black, Capital Repertory Theatre and Merrimack Repertory Theatre; Nixon’s Nixon, The Old Globe; resident costume designer for Players Theatre Columbus (1991-1993), where he designed more than 20 productions, including Lend Me A Tenor, Assassins, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 45,000 actors and stage managers in the United States.Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence. www.actorsequity.org

Always, Patsy Cline Starring Sally Struthers to Kick Off 80th Anniversary Season at the Ogunquit Playhouse!

For Immediate Release:

May 3, 2012

Ogunquit, Maine–The 80th Anniversary Season at the Ogunquit Playhouse kicks off with Always, Patsy Cline, on stage from May 23 through June 16. This inspirational show is told through the letters of star-struck fan Louise Seger, portrayed by Emmy Award winning actress, Sally Struthers. This popular musical, which has enjoyed great success both off-Broadway and across the nation, is based on the true story of Cline’s friendship with Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961 and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. Featuring the unforgettable hits of the Country Music mega-star, this funny and touching tribute celebrates the career and life of the singer who died tragically in a plane crash in 1963. “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Walking After Midnight” are just a few of the 27 featured songs.

Sally Struthers returns for her 10th Anniversary of performing at the Ogunquit Playhouse in the role that started it all - as Louise Seger in Always, Patsy Cline, a role she performed in 2003 and 2004, and many times since around the U.S. Sally is best known for her comedic roles and is a highly acclaimed actress of stage, television and screen, winning two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for her performances in television’s groundbreaking series All in the Family. She starred in the Fox television series 9 to 5, her own CBS series Gloria and had recurring roles in the CBS comedy Still Standing and the CW’s highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls. Sally has performed many roles at Ogunquit Playhouse including, Mama Morton in Chicago, Dolly in Hello Dolly, Paulette the hairdresser in Legally Blonde, and the Mayor in All Shook Up.

Starring as Patsy Cline is Broadway’s Carter Calvert, who is best known for originating her role in the Tony nominated It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues. Her voice has been touted by the New York Times as “smoldering… and …positively dangerous!” Calvert’s extensive credits include a European tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe and the lead role of Grizabella in the Broadway national tour of Cats. She appeared in the World Premiere of Forbidden Vegas, in a role she originated, and as the title role in Always, Patsy Cline. Ms. Calvert has been in theaters all around the country in Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway. She was last seen as the title role in the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of Always, Patsy Cline.

Always, Patsy Cline will be directed by David Galligan, who most recently directed Rita Moreno’s one person show, My Life Without Makeup at Berkeley Rep and Fruit Fly, written by and starring Leslie Jordan at the Celebration Theatre. He also directed the off-Broadway and London productions of My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, also written by and starring Leslie Jordon. Other credits include Songs, Tyne Daly’s rave reviewed nightclub debut at Feinstein’s in New York City, as well as/ The 2nd Time Around, which kicked off Feinstein’s 10th Anniversary Season. Past works include Always Patsy Cline with Sally Struthers.

Musical Direction will be under Ken Clifton who returns to Ogunquit after last season’s sensational production of Miss Saigon. Ken has been the Musical Director for many Ogunquit Playhouse productions including 2011’s The Music Man and Avenue Q and in 2010 for Sunset Blvd. and Chicago. Ken is the resident music director for the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida, and in addition also works as a vocal coach and composer/lyricist.

Guarantee the best seats for the lowest price by buying a season subscription today. Subscriptions start at only $228 and individual ticket prices range from $39-$74 per show. Purchase tickets, subscriptions and gift certificates online at www.ogunquitplayhouse.org, or through the Box Office at 207-646-5511.

The season continues with one of the most enchanting musicals of all time, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific June 20 – July 14. This all-new production is based on the lavish and breathtaking 2008 Tony Award winning Lincoln Center Theatre production. Up next is the devilishly sexy Damn Yankees (the new Boston Red Sox version!) on stage from July 25 – August 18. A bewitching seductress, America's favorite pastime and Satan himself mix it up in this popular Adler and Ross musical comedy, starring Carson Kressley. Sally Struthers will return in the Broadway smash hit from multiple Grammy Award-winning song writer Dolly Parton, 9 To 5: The Musical, is on stage from August 22 through September 15. Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story rocks the 80th Anniversary season to a close from September 19 – October 21. This joyous celebration of a musical legend will have you dancing in the aisles!

Photo Caption: Broadway’s Carter Calvert stars as title role in Always, Patsy Cline, an inspirational show about the friendship of two women, told through the letters of Louise Segar, portrayed by Emmy Award winning actress, Sally Struthers, who is celebrating her 10th Anniversary of performing at the Ogunquit Playhouse!

Crazy – Small Town Girl, Country-Pop Super Star, Down-Home Friend. Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in 1932. She grew up to be an American country music icon. Since her death at age 30 in a 1963 plane crash at the height of her career, she has been considered one of the most influential, successful, revered and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. When “Ginny” turned 16 she had to quit school to help support her family. She worked odd jobs and began singing professionally at night and on weekends to supplement the money her mother made as a seamstress. Over the next few years she won amateur contests, sang on local radio stations and performed with a number of bands. She married Gerald Cline in 1952 and began to sing with bandleader Bill Peer, who gave her the stage name, Patsy.

Patsy Cline had been performing for nearly a decade when she recorded her first album, which included the song, "Walkin' After Midnight.” With this song, she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and was accepted to sing on the popular TV show on January 21, 1957. The audience went wild for her performance and Patsy won the competition. Arthur Godfrey and this breakout performance are credited with making Patsy Cline a star. She then released "Walkin' After Midnight" as a single and it became a hit, reaching #2 on the country charts and #12 on the pop charts, making Cline one of the first country singers to have a crossover pop hit.

Patsy and Gerald Cline divorced in 1957. She then married Charles Allen Dick and they had two children, a daughter and a son. The family moved to Nashville and Patsy joined the Grand Ole Opry as a regular cast member in January 1960. In January 1961, she recorded “I Fall to Pieces,” which topped the country chart and reached the 12th spot on the pop chart. In June, Patsy was critically injured in an automobile accident, but returned to the studio in August, and recorded “Crazy,” a song written by Willie Nelson, that rose to 2nd place on the country chart and 9th place on the pop chart. In December of that year, she recorded “She’s Got You,” which became her second number-one country hit.

Patsy won several outstanding female country singer awards during the next two years. Beginning in January 1962, she frequently appeared as the second-billed performer in a concert tour organized by Johnny Cash that also featured June Carter and George Jones. Her touring schedule included television performances on American Bandstand and the Tex Ritter Show, as well as concerts at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Mint Casino in Las Vegas. By early 1963, she had recorded more than one hundred songs.

On March 5, 1963, while flying home to Nashville after a benefit concert in Kansas City, Missouri, in a plane piloted by her manager, Patsy Cline and performers Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in a crash near Camden, Tennessee. In the decades following her death, Patsy became a musical icon. In 1973, she was the first solo woman performer to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and in 1981, she was inducted into the Virginia Folk Music Association’s Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. Her recordings have sold millions of copies, and she has been the subject of numerous biographies, two musicals, a tribute album, and a feature film. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognized Patsy with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995 and Grammy Hall of Fame awards in 1992 and 2001 for “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces.” Her 12 Greatest Hits, which came out in 1967, is still the top-selling hits collection by a female country artist and has spent the most weeks on the Billboard charts of any album. At the turn of the 21st century, Patsy’s recording of “Crazy” remained the song most often played on jukeboxes. She has fan clubs around the world, a United States commemorative postage stamp, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Always, Patsy Cline is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. Having first heard Cline on the "Arthur Godfrey Show" in 1957, Seger became an immediate and avid fan of Cline's and she constantly hounded the local disc jockey to play Cline's records on the radio. In 1961 when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her buddies arrived about an hour-and-a-half early and, by coincidence, met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger's house -a friendship that lasted until Cline's untimely death. – That's where our story begins.