Laurisa DeFehr carried the script with her for eight years before finding the right fit.
And now the wheels are turning as DeFehr eagerly awaits her directorial debut in Asparagus Community Theatre鈥檚 Always鈥� Patsy Cline, which opens May 3.
鈥淎bout eight years ago, I saw it performed in 琉璃神社 by ,鈥� DeFehr said. 鈥淚 loved the show.鈥�
DeFehr got a copy of the script and held on to it until she was able to bring it back to the stage.
鈥�(I had it) for eight years, hoping one day we could do the show in Armstrong,鈥� DeFehr said. 鈥淚 knew it would be well received there. I鈥檓 hoping we will have a great turn out.鈥�
Always鈥� Patsy Cline follows the life of the acclaimed country singer who rose to fame in the 1950s, earning herself a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame after her untimely death in an airplane accident in Tennessee in 1963.
Told from the perspective of a Cline鈥檚 friend and pen-pal Louise Seger, Ted Swindley鈥檚 script follows the true story of their relationship after they met at a concert in Houston, Texas and sees Cline鈥檚 rise to fame.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny; it鈥檚 emotional; it鈥檚 uplifting,鈥� DeFehr said. 鈥淭he music is timeless. There鈥檚 at least one song everyone will know in there. People will walk out feeling happy and alive.鈥�
Beyond the narrative aspects of the production, DeFehr said, the performance is a true musical. Packed-full of 27 songs, Always鈥� Patsy Cline delves into the singer鈥檚 classic repertoire and features hits like Walking After Midnight, Back in Baby鈥檚 Arms, If You鈥檝e Got Leavin On Your Mind and Crazy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely musical piece. It鈥檚 such a lovely show. There鈥檚 such a blend of acting and music,鈥� DeFehr said. 鈥淚鈥檝e loved Patsy Cline since I was in college.鈥�
DeFehr, who has acted with Vernon鈥檚 for more than 10 years, is excited to make her directorial debut and will receive feedback prior to showtime from Facey.
鈥淵ou need really polished people to put on this show,鈥� DeFehr said.
Mary Groeneveld makes her Asparagus Community Theatre debut in the peformance as Cline and will take the stage alongside theatre veteran Jeunesse Pearson as Seger.
The Bodacious Bobcats 鈥� featuring music director Aaron Anderson on the kit, Todd York on bass, Allen Bensmiller on the strings and George Bensmiller on keys and fiddle 鈥� will rock Cline鈥檚 numbers.
As the local star-studded cast nears production dates, DeFehr can鈥檛 wait to share her love of Always鈥� Patsy Cline.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a wonderful show,鈥� DeFehr said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beyond exciting.鈥�
Always鈥� Patsy Cline runs at the Asparagus Community Theatre in Armstrong May 3-5 and May 9-12 at 7:30 p.m. and May 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $20 adult, $18 students and seniors and $10 for children aged 12-and-under and are available through The Guy Next Door, 3450B Okanagan Street. Cash only. For more information, visit .
