A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline

One of the all-time legends of country music, Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley, September 8 1932, in the Shenandoah Valley of Winchester, Virginia. Always spunky and devoted to music, she quit school at the age of fifteen to work in a drug store and help support her single mother and her younger brother and sister. In return, her mother dedicated her spare time to helping Patsy’s career, and drove her to Nashville when she was only sixteen for her first Grand Ole Opry audition.

Patsy was never shy about self-promotion and impressed everyone the moment they heard her. Ironically, her musical talent was never really rewarded until Walkin’ After Midnight, which was recorded ten years after she began singing professionally. Her incredible musical rendition of this song on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts in 1957 not only won her the contest, but finally set her on the road to the acclaim she deserved. It was followed three years later by the memorable I Fall to Pieces. Then came Crazy (written by Willie Nelson), She’s Got You, Leavin’ on Your Mind, Sweet Dreams, and Faded Love. Her last single release was A Closer Walk with Thee. She realized her lifetime ambition of joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and won ten awards at the WSM Country Music Festival.

In the early 1960’s Patsy’s life began settling down- just as her career began to pick up. Two children, a dream home, and a stack of hit records were finally hers, but she would not be able to enjoy them long. Patsy Cline died in an airplane crash March 5, 1963, while hurrying back to her family after a benefit concert in Kansas City.

Patsy’s enduring musical legacy is witnessed by the fact that she is the number one juke-box play in the world. Her Greatest Hits album has sold over 9 million copies, and was ranked number one for over 200 weeks of the 700 weeks it was on Billboard’s “Top Country Catalogue Albums.” On March 1, 1995, Patsy was memorialized with a Grammy Lifetime Acheivement award, and on August 3, 1999, she was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Although she will never be replaced, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline is a tribute to her spirit and a celebration of the music in her life.

Cast & Band Requirements - 2 Hander Version

• 1 actress/singer who has Patsy's vocal and emotional range (Patsy Cline)
• 1 actor who can play multiple comedic and character roles (Little Big Man/DJ)
• 4-5 piece band consisting of Musical Director/Conductor, Piano, Bass, Guitar, and Drums with option to add 1-2 additional musicians to play Fiddle and/or Steel Guitar

Cast & Band Requirements - Jordanaires Version

• 1 actress/singer who has Patsy's vocal and emotional range (Patsy Cline)
• 1 actor who can play multiple comedic and character roles (Little Big Man/DJ)
• 4 back-singers
• 4-5 piece band consisting of Musical Director/Conductor, Piano, Bass, Guitar, and Drums with option to add 1-2 additional musicians to play Fiddle and/or Steel Guitar