OGDENSBURG – More than 60 years after her death in a plane crash at the age of 30, Patsy Cline is still often described as the greatest female country singer of all time and the first to cross over to the pop music chart.

The music and poignant personal details regarding the trail blazing icon will come to life April 7 at 4 p.m. at George Hall Auditorium through a performance of “Always…Patsy Cline.”

The long-running off-Broadway production is brought to the North Country by Ogdensburg Command Performances. The stage presentation tells the true story of Patsy Cline’s groundbreaking career through her close friendship with one of her biggest fans.

Producers of the show say the audience will get to know Patsy as a down to earth small-town gal and learn the importance of her growing friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger.

You will also hear nearly 30 of her songs including “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” and “Crazy.”

The role of Patsy Cline is played by actress and singer Cindy Summers and Louise Seger is played by Misty Rowe.

Ms. Summers, who has traveled the country portraying Cline for years, says she has grown into the role and does not see the music legend as a tragic figure – even though she died so young.

“She was a pretty woman and was so natural in front of a camera that I think she had the possibility of movies along with her music,” Summers said of Cline. “She was not done by a long shot. What happened to her was tragic, but she wasn’t a tragic figure.”

Summers says she continually revisits Cline’s historic recordings to make sure that she preserves the sound that longtime fans revere.

“I’m not an impersonator, but I do lose myself in her,” she said. “I emulate her glides, glissandos and vibrato. And I’m careful not to let my own style slip in.”

“Always ...Patsy Cline” is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Louise Seger, who first heard Cline perform on the Arthur Godfrey Show in 1957 and became an immediate and avid fan.

In 1961 when Cline went to Houston for a show, Seger and her friends arrived early and met Cline who was traveling alone. The two women struck up a friendship that was to culminate in Cline spending the night at Seger's house.

Over a pot of strong coffee, the two women chatted late into the night about their common concerns and when Cline left for Dallas, the two women exchanged addresses and telephone numbers.

They remained close friends until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash in March 1963.

The upcoming performance and play about Cline’s life and friendship focuses on the fateful evening at Houston's Esquire Ballroom when Seger hears of Cline's death.

Ogdensburg Command Performances Administrator Sally F. Palao says every review of “Always…Patsy Cline” references how the show combines humor, sadness and reality.

“Patsy Cline’s songs and voice were full of emotion, of love, of loss, of heartbreak,” Mrs. Palao said. “Fans old enough to remember her will be brought to tears and those who are new to her music will have a fresh appreciation of why her songs remain so popular 60 years after her death.”

For tickets call 315-393-2625 or visit ILoveTheatre.org

Emails can be sent to ocp@ogdensburgk12.org.