A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline
February 12–21, 2016
Carpenter Performance Hall
Irving Arts Center
North Texas favorite Julie Johnson returned to Lyric Stage to star as country music legend Patsy Cline in this musical sanctioned by the Patsy Cline Estate. A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE also starred Lyric Stage veteran Steve Barcus.
Performance times were February 12, 13, 18, 19 & 20 @ 8:00 PM and February 13, 14, 20 & 21 @ 2:30 PM.
JULIE JOHNSON has enjoyed a varied and exciting career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre and concerts. Julie made her Carnegie Hall debut singing with the New York Pops Orchestra under the direction of Skitch Henderson in 2003. She portrayed Mama in the first national tour of MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL! Broadway-Hal Prince’s CANDIDE; Off-Broadway-DAS BARBECU (Drama Desk Nominee, Theatre World Award), Angel in THE RINK, Music Theater Works and Manhattan Theater Club; Regional: Dolly in HELLO DOLLY, Lyric Stage, Irving, Mrs. Lovett in SWEENEY TODD at Morton Meyerson Symphony Center, Hannie in ROADSIDE at Lyric Stage, LOOK HOMEWARD HONKY TONK ANGEL, OPAL, THE PLEXIGLASS SLIPPER, AS LONG AS I CAN SING, all at Lyric Stage; CHASING THE SONG at La Jolla Playhouse, Domina in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Potts in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Bass Hall in Ft. Worth, Miss Mona in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS at Bass Hall, ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, and MOONSHINE all at the Dallas Theater Center; Miss Trixie in PAPERMOON at the Goodspeed Opera House and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, and Mae West in DIRTY BLONDE at Theater Three. Julie was the voice of Baby Bop on the BARNEY AND FRIENDS series for 20 years. Movie credits include, PURE COUNTRY with George Strait and THE APOSTLE with Robert Duvall. Julie has also appeared on episodes of AS THE WORLD TURNS. Her finest production to date is her wonderful son, Trey!
ABOUT PATSY CLINE
One of the all-time legends of country music, Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley, September 8, 1932, in 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 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 try-out. Patsy was never shy about self-promotion and impressed everyone the moment they heard her. Ironically, her music talent was never really rewarded until “Walkin After Midnight” which was recorded ten years after she began singing professionally. Her incredible music rendition of this song on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts in 1957 not only won 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 music popularity is witnessed by the fact that she is the number one juke box play in the world. Her “Greatest Hits” album has been in first place for over 200 weeks on Billboard’s “Top Country Catalogue Albums.” On March 1, 1995, Patsy was memorialized with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Although she will never be replaced, A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE is a tribute to her spirit and a celebration of the music of her life.
