photo by Ben Hillyer

Mary Nell Rushing plays Patsy Cline in the musical “Always...Patsy Cline.” The popular stage show is returning to Natchez for one show on Saturday.

Patsy Cline returns to local stage

By Jennifer Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Natchez — Back by popular demand is a phrase often heard in the entertainment world and it aptly fits the upcoming performance of “Always…Patsy Cline” in Natchez.

The musical production has been performed several times over the last seven years and was set to be retired, said Terry Trovato the drummer for the on-stage band, The Bodacious Bobcats.

“We kept having people ask ‘when are you going to do Patsy again,’” Trovato said. “If that many people want to see it, we had to do it again.”

The musical tells the story of Patsy Cline and the friendship she developed with a Houston, Texas, housewife named Louis Segar. The two met only once but developed and maintained a close friendship through letters.

Cline is played by Mary Nell Rushing, while the role of Segar is performed by Diana Glaze.

It was actually Rushing’s desire to perform in the musical after seeing it performed elsewhere that brought the heralded production to Natchez for the first time seven years ago.

Rushing had traveled to Monroe, La., with a group of friends to see “Always…Patsy Cline” performed by the Monroe Little Theatre, and upon returning to Natchez she suggested it be performed here.

“A group of us at Natchez Little Theatre were sitting around talking about things we wanted to do in the theater,” Rushing said. “I just said ‘I don’t know about y’all but I want to do ‘Always…Patsy Cline. Diana heard me say that and from there she just took it and ran with it.”

Glaze went through the process of getting the scripts and musical material. After reading the script she was as taken by the musical as Rushing was and wanted to not only direct the production but also play Louis Segar opposite Rushing.

Glaze and Rushing have performed together each time the musical has been performed in Natchez. Trovato has been with the cast for the past seven years as well.

But no matter how many times they step on stage together, Rushing said she will never get tired of performing “Always…Patsy Cline.”

“I really like singing country music and will never get tired of singing this music,” Rushing said. “I love working with this group of people. It has been a fun experience every time.”

Trovato agreed that working with the same group over the years has really brought the cast close together.

“We have done this so much that now when we get are onstage we are like one big family,” Trovato said. “We are all pals now.”

Trovato said that although he is more of a jazz trained percussionist, the 27 pieces of country music were fun for him to learn and perform.

“I’ve never done country music before but the music is very fun,” Trovato said. “The music is fairly simple and fun.”

Despite being performed many times over the last several years the play continues to be a sellout. Rushing thinks that is because the story line has something for everyone.

“It is just a really good play that appeals to just about everyone. Even people who don’t like country music,” Rushing said. “It has a good story line. It is a little funny and a little sad.”

The script is based on a series of articles written by Patsy Cline historian Ellis Nassour. Nassour, a Vicksburg native, will be at Turning Pages book store in Natchez from 4 to 6 p.m. today signing copies of his updated biography on Patsy Cline, “Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline.”

The cast will perform only one show this year with the proceeds going to the Natchez Festival of Music.

“We’ve done it so many times and so many people have already seen it that we will be happy if we can just fill the auditorium this one time,” Trovato said.

The lone performance will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center located at 64 Homochitto St. in Natchez. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $15 to $35. For tickets call 601-445-6103 or 1-800-647-6742.