Always... Patsy Cline

The Story

"Patsy Cline," says Always...Patsy Cline creator, Ted Swindley, "has now taken on the mantle of a legend. Patsy endures - in fact she gets bigger - decade after decade as she is discovered by new fans and revered by the faithful who grew up with her."

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 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.

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.