Two celebrity impersonation shows will bring stars such as Patsy Cline, Elvis, Sonny and Cher and Neil Diamond this weekend to the Art Center Theatre and Curtis Peterson Auditorium.
Always . . . Patsy Cline will feature the soaring vocals and stirring songs of the great country music singer to the Art Center Theatre for two performances Saturday and one Sunday.
Although her recording and performing career were tragically cut short by her death in an airplane crash in 1963 at the age of 30, Cline left a country music legacy that continues to gain fans through the years. Her emotional yet pitch-perfect voice on songs such as I Fall to Pieces, Crazy and Sweet Dreams still set the standards for a great country song.
With a career that lasted about eight years in recording studios and tours, Cline's songs seem to reach through the ages to influence not only successive generations of fans, but other singers such as Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and K.D. Lang.
Always features Lisa Layne as Cline, singing her way through a list of 27 songs. In 1995 Layne won the role of Patsy Cline in the first national tour of a Closer Walk With Patsy Cline and toured for three years with the show. She landed the role in Always in 2003 for a nationwide tour and includes the Citrus County shows in this year's tour.
"It's very humbling to play this role," Layne said of portraying Cline. "She still has millions of fans."
She will be backed by a six-piece country band for the songs.
"They're really great musicians," Layne said. "When you're playing a tribute to someone like Patsy Cline, you only want the best."
The plot of the play is an actual meeting between Cline and a superdevoted fan, Louise Seger.
"She meets her after a show in Houston and takes Patsy home, cooks her breakfast and they just have these wonderful conversations," Layne said. "And the songs are just woven in. It's really great."
Show times for Always are 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Art Center box office today from 1 to 4 p.m., or ordered at 746-7606. Nonreserved seats, as available, will be sold at the ACT prior to each performance.
Tickets can also be purchased by phone using a credit card at 1-800-955-5566 or by the Web site at www.tickets.com The Art Center Theatre is at the Citrus County Art League, 2644 N Annapolis Ave., Citrus Hills.
But Cline won't be the only show business legend presented through adept impersonation this weekend.
A Las Vegas Revue with performers Ruby Tuesday and Keith Coleman will be at 3 p.m Saturday at Curtis Peterson Auditorium at Lecanto High. The duo performs impersonations of stars such as Elvis, Neil Diamond, Sonny and Cher. Advance tickets are $12 and $15 at the door. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Homosassa Springs. Tickets are at area Regions, Brannen and SunTrust banks.
- Jorge Sanchez covers Citrus County arts and entertainment and can be reached at 860-7313 Send e-mail to sanchez@sptimes.com
