Shopping Ellis County

Ennis Public Theatre Opens “Always… Patsy Cline”, by Ted Swindley Weekends beginning April 16th – May 8th at 7:30pm; Matinee on May 9th 2:30 pm  “Always…Patsy Cline” is more than a tribute to the legendary country singer who died tragically at age 30 in a plane crash in 1963.

The show is based on a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death.

The musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion and even some audience participation, includes many of Patsy' unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight…27 songs in all.  The show’s title was inspired by Cline's letters to Seger, which were consistently signed "Love ALWAYS... Patsy Cline.” 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 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.  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.

Tickets to productions and Theatre memberships may be purchased by contacting the theatre at 972.8783PLAY (7529) or on line at ennispublictheatre.com.  Ennis Public Theatre is located at 2805C  N. I-45 in Ennis, Texas.

Introducing - Kiara Haubrick in the role of Patsy Cline.  Kiara is making her Ennis Public Theatre debut in the challenging role of Patsy Cline, but her strong clear voice is more than up to the task.  Much like Patsy, Kiara discovered her singing talent early.  She was singing in church pageants when she was three, began her stage career at age nine playing Gretl in The Sound Of Music and later as Mrs. Popper  in Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the Costa Mesa Community Theatre in California.  With a move to Lawton Oklahoma when she was sixteen, Kiara continued her stage training in high school, where she appeared as Bonnie in Anything Goes and as Dorothy Brock in Street. Kiara is currently a senior at SAGU in Waxahachie, where she is studying music education and will graduate in December of 2010.  Her big voice will carry you back to the days when you danced and swayed to the fabulous songs of the unforgettable Patsy Cline. 

Sandra Mahood reprieves her role of Louise and graces the Ennis Public Theatre stage for the first time!  She attended Navarro College, UT Austin and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from Baylor University.  It was during these college years that she was introduced to and would eventually marry the love of her life — director, designer and actor, Richard Mahood.  Sandra has been active in professional theatre for over 25 years having performed in or directed over 300 productions.  For eighteen years Sandra co-owned and operated the Piccadilly Dinner Theatre in Grand Island, Nebraska with her late husband.  She has appeared professionally at the Kiva Theatre in Moscow, Idaho, The Cobblestone Players in Clear Lake, Iowa and the Firehouse Dinner Theatre in Omaha NE.   Sandra has been employed by the Warehouse Theatre in Corsicana since 1996 and was appointed Executive Director in 1999.  Sandra’s most memorable performances for the Warehouse have been Louise in Always…Patsy Cline and the one-woman show Shirley Valentine.  She also appeared in The Dixie Swim Club, The Odd Couple (female version), Blithe Spirit, Plaza Suite, I Do! I Do!, and Nunsense.  Her highly-successful directing assignments for WLAC have been Oliver!, Guys and Dolls, I Do! I Do!, Oklahoma!, Don’t Drink the Water, The Music Man, Big River and Anne of Green Gables.   Sandra is very happy to be working with Bill Rhoten and to be appearing at the Ennis Public Theatre for the first time.

Press may reserve a seat by contacting theatre and presenting a copy of this Press Release as your ticket for
OPENING WEEKEND ONLY