‘Always … Patsy Cline’ returns to Florence after 10 years

The two main actors, Oneida Martin as Cline, and Scarlett Knight as Seger, performed in the original cast at the Florence Little Theatre 10 years ago.

“It’s actually ten years exactly,” said the show’s director, Frankie Sullivan, “We’re opening on the night that the original production closed so we’re kind of like continuing it ten years later.”

When Sullivan was approached to direct the show, as a fan of Patsy Cline he was glad to accept the offer.

“I was a big fan of Patsy Cline growing up,” said Sullivan. “My grandmother listened to Patsy Cline all the time; she listened to Elvis, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn. All those rockabilly country singers.”

Sullivan said even when he wasn’t visiting his grandmother, he still heard those songs.

“She lived right behind us and she liked to play her music pretty loud,” he said, “So even when I was outside playing in the summer I heard that music.”

“I knew some stuff about her life and I did some background research, watched some YouTube clips but there’s very little bit on her because she had such a short career.”

One of the aspects of Cline that Sullivan didn’t know about is just how powerful a singer she was.

“She had a cannon of a voice … they had to make her stand back extra feet from the mic because she was so loud,” said Sullivan. “She had a big, huge voice.”

Tickets for “Always … Patsy Cline” are $25 for adults and $20 for those under 18. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.florencelittletheatre.org , calling the box office at 843-662-3731, or visiting the box office Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.