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Kara Boyer Stars in A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE at Totem Pole Playhouse, Now thru 6/23

By: Jun. 11, 2013
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It may not be a 45 on AM radio or a Wurlitzer, but even in today's digital world, the music and story of a girl from Winchester, Virginia who came to be known as Patsy Cline resonate with generations of musicians and fans. The impact of Patsy Cline's story and music, the last of which was recorded a half-century ago, was seen when Totem Pole Playhouse was casting musicians for its production of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, running tonight, June 11 through 23.

Whether it's simply playing its legendary stage, the show itself, or the vanishing opportunity to earn a summertime paycheck at one of the country's few remaining professional summer stock theaters; the reasons performers are eager to play at Totem Pole are many. "With A Closer Walk being a nationally popular musical that's also officially sanctioned by the Patsy Cline estate, we knew that we would attract a wonderfully talented cast," said artistic director Ray Ficca, "but the breadth of interest in this show told us there was something different." That difference turned out to be Patsy and her music.

In the role of Patsy, New York-based singer, actor and vocal teacher Kara Boyer brings her Off- Broadway experiences in this very role to her first appearance at Totem Pole, performing 20 of Patsy's hits. Long known as a place for musical talent - from which Patsy herself came - the four-state region rarely poses a challenge in finding musicians. The challenge is having so many great musicians. When assembling the band for A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, music director David Hemsley Caldwell, who returns to Totem Pole for his fifteenth summer, had the unique opportunity to bring together multiple generations of musicians, from different backgrounds, who have been inspired by Patsy's music.

From the three-decade plus careers of steel guitarist Dean Clemmer and guitarist Stephen Blackstock, both of whom have played and recorded regionally and nationally, to David Zygmunt, whose early interest in the drums led to a musical career in the U.S. Navy and a music faculty position at Dickinson College, the band is diverse in background and deep in experience. And then there is the bassist. At just sixteen, Chambersburg High School student Joshua Long was the surprise.

"When we saw Joshua, he blew us away" Ficca said. "Here's a sixteen year-old kid, he's inspired by this music from three decades before he was born and when he plays it, he really brings it to life." Long already has quite a bit of performance experience playing bass and percussion with several school and community bands and orchestras. "When you think about it, Patsy Cline herself got her start as a teenager, here in this region," said Nathan Rotz, Executive Director at Totem Pole, "so having a young guy like Joshua on stage seems natural."

A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline runs through June 23 with 7:30pm evening performances Tuesdays through Sundays and 2:30pm matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at Totem Pole Playhouse, off U.S. 30 between Chambersburg and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Tickets start at just $19.50, with 50% discounts for students and 25% discounts for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling the box office at 888-805-7056 or visiting TotemPolePlayhouse.org.

Nestled in Caledonia State Park about 13 miles west of Gettysburg and 10 miles east of Chambersburg on U.S. 30, Totem Pole Playhouse has become home to an enclave of professional performing artists including Jean Stapleton, Curtis Armstrong, Harry Groener, Henry Strozier, John Ritter, Barbara Feldon and Sandy Dennis. Totem Pole Playhouse opens its 63rd season in May of 2013. For more information about Totem Pole Playhouse, the line-up of productions for the 2013 season, or ticket information, visit TotemPolePlayhouse.org.



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