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Playhouse brings back popular Patsy Cline show
Patsy Cline 2010
Dianne Kocher and Nancy O’Bryan are performing as Patsy Cline and her fan Louise Seger in Playhouse Merced’s production of “Always ... Patsy Cline.” - photo by Photo Contributed
The wildly well-received country drama “Always ... Patsy Cline,” is returning to the Playhouse Merced with the opening show on Friday.
“Always ... Patsy Cline” pays tribute to the country western star who died in a plane wreck at the height of her career in 1963. The two-woman show combines some of Cline’s memorable music with correspondence between the singer and fan Louise Seger, who in the play is an amalgamation of Cline’s numerous fans.
Some of Cline’s most famous songs, like “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” are featured in the play.
Reprising her role as Cline is Nancy O’Bryan, who played the singer in a previous run of the show at the Playhouse theater in 2003 and again in 2006 in “A Closer walk with Patsy Cline.”
“Nancy O’Bryan has played Patsy several times over the years at Playhouse Merced and it’s always a crowd pleaser,” said Playhouse Merced’s spokesperson Jim Kocher.
O’Bryan has also appeared in Playhouse productions as “Maria VonTrapp”  in “The Sound of Music” and “Annie Oakley” in “Annie Get Your Gun.”
Playing the role of Louise Seger is Dianne Kocher, who has appeared at Playhouse Merced as “Mrs. Potts” in “Beauty and the Beast” and “Eve” in “Children of Eden.”
“Always… Patsy Cline” is directed by Dustin Brown, musically directed by Joel Shade, and set designed by Corey Strauss.
“Always… Patsy Cline” runs Friday through Jan. 31. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Ticket prices are: $20 adults; $17 seniors; $10 students; and $8 children. To purchase tickets call 725-8587 or stop by the box office at 452 West Main St. in downtown Merced.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.