A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline

The Musical Biography of a Star

May 20 – June 11
Springer Theatre

"I go out walkin’ after midnight
Out in the starlight, just hoping you may be
Somewhere a-walkin’ after midnight
Searchin’ for me..."

 

 

 

By Dean Regan
Produced in association with Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops, BC
Directed by Daryl Cloran

  • Country music’s greatest lady takes the stage to tell her story through her own unforgettable songs.

    A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE chronicles Patsy’s compelling journey, as she climbs to stardom from small town Virginia to Carnegie Hall. Featuring her greatest hits, including “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy” and “I Fall To Pieces,” this production stars Playhouse favourite Alison MacDonald (SHE LOVES ME, PIRATES OF PENZANCE) in a performance that will transport you back in time. With great tunes, a great band, and country music’s greatest lady, this show will have you singing the whole way home!

    “Do yourself a favour and go.”
    - The Memphis Flyer

    “You are left wanting more…”
    - Broadway World


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  • Springer Theatre Logo

    Playing at the Springer Theatre
    from May 20 – June 11

    Springer Theatre Performance Times
    All Tuesday performances start at 7:30 pm
    Wednesday to Saturday at 8:00 pm
    Matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 pm (starting the Sunday after opening)

  • Cast

    Alison MacDonald - Patsy Cline
    Tyler Murree - Little Big Man

    Creative

    Director - Daryl Cloran
    Musical Director - David Archibald
    Set Designer - Ross Nichol
    Costume Designer - Jayne Christopher
    Lighting Designer - Davida Tkach
    Sound Designer - Ben Malone
    Stage Manager - Lisa Russell
    Michael Barrs - Assistant Stage Manager

    Musicians

    David Archibald - Piano
    Bob Arlidge - Bass
    Dan Charbonneau - Guitar
    Duncan Holt - Percussion



    DAVID ARCHIBALD (Musical Director / Piano)
    For the Playhouse: Dear Johnny Deere, Up the River, Love & Larceny, The Perilous Pirate’s Daughter, plus many Young Company Productions
    Elsewhere: A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline (WCT); Dear Johnny Deere (Theatre Calgary); Kitchen Radio, St. Anne’s Reel, Dear Johnny Deere, Hometown, Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, The Perilous Pirate’s Daughter, (Blyth); Dear Johnny Deere (Lighthouse); Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (Confederation Centre for the Arts, Charlottetown); Ballad of Stompin’ Tom (Drayton); Dr. Magnificent’s Travelling Musical Medicine Show (YAH Theatre). David is the composer, playwright, or both in many of the above, and has also been a performer and songwriter for Sesame Street (PBS) and Mr. Dressup (CBC).
    Upcoming: Kitchen Radio, 2017 – A new CD of original material to be released in 2016

    David has been awarded the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Musical Direction for Theatre Calgary’s Dear Johnny Deere, and the Fen Watkin Scholarship (play development) from the Confederation Centre for the Arts in Charlottetown. David has recorded for RCA and was the producer of pop star Avril Lavigne’s first recording. He has also been commissioned by many Provincial and National Parks to compose, record, and perform songs celebrating Canada’s natural and cultural history.

    BOB ARLIDGE (Bass)
    For the Playhouse:     Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart
    Elsewhere: Forever Plaid, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Godspell, Blue Champagne, Annie, Les Misérables, H.M.S. Pinafore, Man of La Mancha, The Buddy Holly Story (Grand Theatre Kingston); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Wellington Street Theatre)
    Upcoming:     Later in this season, Bob looks forward to providing bass for the Thousand Island Playhouse production of Into the Woods.

    In the present production of A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, Bob plays the role of the historic Nashville bassist, “Lightnin’ Chance” who performed with Cline and appeared on several of her records.

    MICHAEL BARRS (Assistant Stage Manager)
    For the Playhouse: Stage Manager of Bed and Breakfast
    Elsewhere: Eight seasons with the Canadian Opera Company; the premieres of Arrabal (BASE/Marquis Entertainment) and Queen for a Day (April 30th Entertainment); Rock of Ages, The Sound of Music (Mirvish Productions); Jersey Boys, The Toxic Avenger (Dancap Productions); Damn Yankees, 9 to 5: The Musical, The Wizard of Oz (Drayton Entertainment); Just For Laughs
    Upcoming: Stage Manager of In a Blue Moon (Thousand Islands Playhouse) Michael holds a BFA in Theatre Production and Design from York University.

    DAN CHARBONNEAU (Guitar)
    For the Playhouse: Debut

    Dan Charbonneau is a Kingston-based guitarist/vocalist best known as a member of The Growing Pains (now Hat Trick) and his numerous sideman appearances with Kingston artists such as Emily Fennell, Cliff Edwards, The Runaway Cowboys, The Fatones, and many others.

    He has also been an in demand private music instructor for 30 years, teaching virtually all styles of music to people of all ages. Dan began taking guitar lessons at age 5 and started playing professionally while still in elementary school at age 12.

    JAYNE CHRISTOPHER (Costume Design)
    For the Playhouse:     Violet’s the Pilot, Bird Brain, Rose’s Clothes, Saltwater Moon, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Forever Plaid
    Elsewhere: Winter Wonderettes (Theatre Kingston); Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Anything Goes, Les Misérables (St. Lawrence College); Rare (H’art Centre & Box Productions)

    Jayne lives in Gananoque and has been Head of Wardrobe at Thousand Islands Playhouse for 26 years.

    DARYL CLORAN (Director)
    For the Playhouse: Closer Than Ever, The Importance of Being Earnest, Boeing Boeing, Till it Hurts, and Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad
    Elsewhere: Love’s Labour’s Lost (Bard on the Beach); Liberation Days (Theatre Calgary); Tribes (Canadian Stage/ Theatrefront); Afterplay (Shaw Festival); All for Love (National Arts Centre); Generous (Tarragon); This is How it Goes (Neptune); The Last Five Years (Manitoba Theatre Centre); Mary Poppins, Peter & the Starcatcher and Les Misérables (Western Canada Theatre); UBUNTU (The Cape Town Project), RETURN (The Sarajevo Project), The Mill (Theatrefront); Time Stands Still (Theatre Aquarius)
    Upcoming: The premiere of Daryl’s stage adaptation of The Cure for Death by Lightning (WCT), as well as directing In a Blue Moon (Thousand Islands Playhouse)

    Daryl has received the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize for Outstanding Emerging Director, the Toronto Theatre Emerging Artist Award, and Halifax’s Merritt Award for Outstanding Direction. He is the Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops, British Columbia and the Founding Artistic Director of Theatrefront (Toronto). Daryl is so happy to be back in Gananoque with Ashlie and all the great folks at Thousand Islands Playhouse!

    DUNCAN HOLT (Percussion)
    For the Playhouse: Debut

    Duncan is an experienced drummer, having played for over forty years. He currently owns and runs a recording studio, Concept Audio, and has recorded popular artists such as, Avril Lavigne, Glorious Sons, The Abrams Brothers, and David Archibald.

    Along with being a session drummer, Duncan also plays in local bands, The Rain Kings, Chris (from Pursuit of Happiness) and Dee, Georgette Fry’s Tribute to Etta James, Cliff Edwards (The Bells), and Jenica Rayne.

    Duncan gets great joy passing along his drumming knowledge to twenty-two of his students at the Kingston School of Music. His philosophies are to be a team player, and to never stop learning.

    ALISON MACDONALD (Patsy Cline)
    For the Playhouse: The Pirates of Penzance, She Loves Me, SUDS–The Rocking 60s Musical Soap Opera, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Marvelous Wonderettes
    Elsewhere: It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf - The Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Chemainus Theatre); The Penelopiad (The Citadel); A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Western Canada Theatre); Back To You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr, Sound of Music, Emily (Gateway Theatre); Seussical, Little Women (Carousel Theatre); The World Goes ‘Round, Songs For a New World (AMC); Les Misérable, Company (Arts Club)
    Upcoming: The Funky Punckies at Toronto Kidsfringe

    Alison recently recordered her debut album – I’m Moving Along. It’s full of hits from the 1950s and 60s, inlcuding a number of Patsy Cline tunes! It is available for purchase in the lobby during each performance.

    www.alisonmacdonald.ca

    BEN MALONE (Sound Designer)
    For The Playhouse: Debut
    Elsewhere: Various Leisa Way Tributes across Southern Ontario, including Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton
    Upcoming: Touring Western Canada with English group Oysterband

    A Hamilton native and graduate of the Theatre Arts - Technical Production program at Sheridan College, Ben has spent the better part of a decade as a sound engineer (and occasionally a lighting technician) for concerts, theatre, corporate shows, and many other live events.

    Ben has relished the opportunity to work with this top notch company, and hopes you have as much fun watching the show as he has had designing it.

    TYLER MURREE (Little Big Man)
    For the Playhouse: Debut
    Elsewhere: Les Misérables (Broadway); The Lion King (North American Tour); The Lord of the Rings, Dirty Dancing, Les Misérables (Mirvish Productions); regional shows around Canada and the U.S. Selected Film/TV: Generation Wolf (Feature); Pin Ball Wizards, Orphan Black, Copper (BBC America); The Other Kingdom, Max & Shred, Life with Boys (Nickelodeon); Murdoch Mysteries, The Trojan Horse (CBC)

    When not performing, Tyler serves as an on-set acting coach for many popular TV series as well as a private audition coach. He is married to former Alberta Ballet dancer, Tanya Dobler. They live in Toronto with their son, Nicholas and dog, Benny. Dedicated to the memory of Katherine McDonell: “I love you Grandma”.

    www.tylermurree.com

    ROSS NICHOL (Set Designer) 
    For the Playhouse:     Closer Than Ever (set and lighting design), Waiting for the Parade (lighting design), Boeing Boeing (lighting design) 
    Elsewhere: Miss Caledonia, The 39 Steps (Western Canada Theatre); Mail Order Bride (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC); The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon (Theatre North West, Prince George, BC)

    Ross has completed more than 225 designs in theatre, film and TV from coast to coast. He has taught for Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver BC and Stagecraft & Event Technology, Douglas College, New Westminster, BC. He is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology.

    Ross would like to thank the production staff for their work to get the show on stage!

    LISA RUSSELL (Stage Manager) 
    For the Playhouse:     Debut 
    Elsewhere: Liberation Days, Les Misérables, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Attic, The Pearls and Three Fine Girls (Western Canada Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, A Soldier’s War, The Drowning Girls, Becky’s New Car, Shangri-La, O.C.Dean, Pride and Prejudice, Shout Sister, Robin Hood and A Doll’s House (Globe Theatre); Grace & Glorie, Over the River and Through the Woods (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Madama Butterfly (Calgary Opera); Souvenirs, The December Man and Steel Kiss (Green Thumb Theatre); Doubt, A Parable (Theatre Calgary/ Manitoba Theatre Centre); Shirley Valentine, Anything Goes (The Grand Theatre)

    Lisa was the interim production manager for Calgary Opera’s 2014 summer festival and was the onsite producer in 2015. She was also the production stage manager for the Summer Arts Festival at the Banff Centre for four summers and spent seven seasons at the Stratford Festival.

    DAVIDA TKACH (Lighting Designer) 
    For the Playhouse:     Debut 
    Elsewhere: Designer – Ayikodans, Opera Briefs (Tapestry New Opera); Centre Stage Gala (COC); The Particular Premiere of a First (Esme Boyce Dance); Altar Boyz (Angelwalk Theatre, Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Late, Black Medea (Obsidian Theatre Company). Associate/Assistant – Arc3Design; Canadian Opera Company; Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre for a New Audience); The Princess and The Goblin (The Royal Winnipeg Ballet); The Common Pursuit (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre Gala; Hemsley Lighting Design Internship (New York City Ballet, New York City Opera)

    Davida is thrilled to be working with the Thousand Island Playhouse for the first time. She is a Toronto based lighting designer that works in theatre, dance and opera. Davida completed the Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Design Internship in New York City in 2012, and has assisted at the COC, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, on and off Broadway, and at the Metropolitan Opera. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.

  • Photos

    Photos courtesy of Barbara Zimonick for Western Canada Theatre.

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    Videos

    Click image to watch video!

    [embed width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXLxn3YINM[/embed]

     

    [embed width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPTSpKUG1Bw[/embed]

     

     

  • Press

    Patsy Cline play is all about the music
    Kingston Whig-Standard. May 26, 2016 
    As its opener this season, the Thousand Islands Playhouse has again turned to a musical to set the mood. Sure, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline  does have dialogue… Read More

    Theatre Review: "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" at the 1000 Islands Playhouse
    North Country Public Radio. May 26, 2016
    I’m not sure what to say about “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline” by Dan Regan, except that it’s not really a musical. It’s more a terrific concert or night club act… Read More

    Talking a Walk with Patsy at the 1000 Islands Playhouse
    Alicia Jessup Blog. May 24, 2016
    From the moment you walk into the theatre you are brought back to the golden age of radio, country radio especially, with a stage space created from… Read More

    A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline Glistens with Greatness
    A Fresh News Start Blog. June 3, 2016
    Patsy Cline has come to Gananoque, and the Thousand Islands Playhouse may never be the same again.  As Little Big Man spins the platters and reminisces, the… Read More

     

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