The Mill Town Players will present “Always Patsy Cline” beginning this weekend. The first production for the new theater group will run from September 19 through 28 at the Pelzer Auditorium. Tickets are now on sale. Pictured are Guitarist Larry Rockwell and singer Katie Rockwell as Patsy Cline.
“Always Patsy Cline”
The Mill Town Players will present their first production, “Always Patsy Cline” September 19-28, at the Historic Pelzer Auditorium. Opening night for the first show will be this Friday, Sept. 19. There will be a total of 7 performances.
The production will include performances by Upstate stage veterans Kristi Parker Byers and Katie Rockwell as Patsy Cline. Rockwell’s rockabilly band, Honey and the Hotrods, will also perform in the show. Performances begin at 8pm Fridays and Saturdays and matinees at 3pm on Sundays. There will also be a Thursday performance next week at 8 p.m. (Sept. 25).
“Always Patsy Cline” is a musical tribute to the legendary country singer and comes complete with down home country humor, true emotion and audience participation. Audiences will be treated to many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight.
The Mill Town Players are a new community theater located in the Historic Pelzer Auditorium, which is dedicated to entertaining, inspiring and enriching the community by providing quality and affordable live theater.
Executive Artistic Director Will Ragland said the goal of the theater is to present quality, affordable, live entertainment.
“I am excited about bringing quality and affordable live theater to the community and to feature and develop local talent,” Ragland said. “I promise the best show money can buy and hope you won’t miss this opportunity to see Patsy Cline live and in Pelzer!”
During the theater group’s announcement event held in July, Board member Lynn King said, “This community theater group in Pelzer is on its way to becoming one of the premier venues in the Southeast. We were thrilled but not surprised at the tremendous turnout for the inaugural season announcement.”
“Will Ragland is already well-known and appreciated for his many roles, direction, and sets in area theaters. Beginning a new community theater group in Pelzer has been his dream for a long time, and that dream has begun to come true. We have an excellent board and volunteers, and we expect people in our area to enjoy the efforts of a lot of people, especially Will. He is the most talented person I have ever known, and I’m so proud of him. We are all looking forward to Always, Patsy Cline with exceptional plays to follow.”
Ragland teaches at Woodmont High School and his productions have won state and national awards in the last few years.
Ragland and casts of community actors will be offering five other outstanding shows during their first season.
Dark of the Moon will be presented on Halloween weekend, Oct. 31- Nov. 2. Ragland said that production will be entered into the SC Theatre Association Community Theatre Festival in Aiken in November.
The next show will be A Christmas Carol and will be held for two weekends, Dec. 12-21.
Alice in Wonderland will be presented two weekends, Feb. 20-March 1. The production will feature live actors and puppets.
Treasure Island will be presented two weekends, Apr. 24-May 3.
The season will end with the popular show Grease, which will be performed three weekends, July 17-Aug. 1.
Ticket prices will be $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students. Season tickets will be available for $50. Season Subscriptions are also available for $50 for the general public; $40 for seniors (age 65+) and $35 for students (18 and under)
Tickets and dates for all shows are on sale now on the theatre’s website www.milltownplayers.org or through their box office at (864) 947-8000.
“We encourage you to arrive early for tickets since large crowds are expected,” Ragland said.
The historic Pelzer Auditorium is located at 214 Lebby Street.
