From the Archive · A Decade on the Road
The Patsy Cline Years
Before East of Westreville filled our calendar, there was Always... Patsy Cline. Conceived and written by Ted Swindley and based on a true story, the show toured for a decade with several revivals: more than 300 performances for 250,000 people across the region. This page keeps that story alive.
"We did Patsy longer than Patsy did Patsy. I said we'd do it as long as it was fun and the costumes still fit. Well... it never stopped being fun!" Kaija Bonde
The Story
A superstar and a Texas housewife
Always... Patsy Cline is the true story of one woman's introduction to Patsy Cline's music, and then to Patsy herself. It tells of the friendship that developed between the superstar and a Texas housewife named Louise Seger: a heart-warming and funny foot-stomp through the music and memories of two very special women. As Patsy would say, "Come on, sit right down and make yourself at home!"
"An uncanny, spine-tingling portrayal... This show easily counts as one of the best onstage in the region." Sioux Falls Argus Leader, which named the show Best Musical of the year and Kaija Bonde Best Actress
"Beautiful... a memorable ride. Don't miss it." Don Hall, Aberdeen American News
The Company
The people who made it
Kaija Bonde as Patsy Cline
A familiar face and voice to regional audiences, Kaija brought a lifelong passion for Patsy's music to the role that defined the show for a decade.
Jill Johnson as Louise Seger
A seasoned actress whose credits include Tony and Tina's Wedding, The Sisters Rosensweig, Evita, Little Shop of Horrors, and A Chorus Line, Jill gave Louise her heart and her comic timing.
Brian Bonde, producer and director
Brian guided the production from its first night to its last, through a decade, more than 300 performances, and every kind of venue the prairie could offer.
Boyd Bristow, musical director, with the Poker Alice Band
A six-piece country swing band featuring members of the Poker Alice Band captured Cline's sound perfectly, with some of South Dakota's premier musicians: Larry Rohrer on bass, Owen DeJong on fiddle, Fred Evans on drums, and Harry Wood on steel guitar.
The Music
Song samples
Short samples from Kaija's two CDs of Patsy Cline music, recorded during the run of the show. The CDs are no longer for sale, but the music is still worth a listen.
Where We Played
The towns along the way
Opera houses, high school auditoriums, community theaters, convention halls, banquet rooms, and one swimming pool fundraiser. Alongside the full production we played shortened concert versions for conventions and annual meetings. Drawn from our contract files, so this list is as close to complete as our filing cabinet allows. If you saw Always... Patsy Cline, your night is probably in here.
- Aberdeen, SD — Capitol Theater · 1999
- Akron, IA — Akron Community Theater · 2000
- Beresford, SD — Beresford Arts Council · 2000
- Brandon, SD — High School Performing Arts Center · 2000, 2007, 2013
- Brookings, SD — SDSU Prairie Repertory Theatre · 2004
- Brookings, SD — Kiwanis · 2004
- Canton, SD — High School Auditorium · 1998
- Centerville, SD — High School Auditorium · 1998
- Cherokee, IA — Washington High School Auditorium · 2002
- Clark, SD — FCCLA · 2004
- Columbus, NE — Columbus Area Arts Council · 2004
- Custer, SD — Chamber of Commerce · 2002
- David City, NE — Butler County Arts Council · 2000
- Dawson, MN — Dawson-Boyd Arts Association · 2005
- Deadwood, SD — Deadwood Pavilion · 2000, 2001, 2007, 2013
- Dell Rapids, SD · 1999
- Des Moines, IA — The Des Moines Playhouse · 2001, 2002
- De Smet, SD — Memorial Hospital Foundation · 2001
- Detroit Lakes, MN — Holmes Theatre & Cultural Center · 2002
- Flandreau, SD — Crystal Theater · 1999, 2000, 2001
- Garretson, SD — Swimming Pool benefit · 2001
- Gettysburg, SD · 1999
- Gregory, SD — Hipp Theater · 2005
- Hartington, NE — Hartland Music Festival · 2002
- Humboldt, SD — Volunteer Fire Department · 2000
- Irene, SD — Irene High School · 2001
- Jamestown, ND — The Art Center · 2001
- Lake Preston, SD — High School Auditorium · 1999, 2004
- Lennox, SD — Lennox High School · 2001
- Luverne, MN — High School Little Theater · 2000
- Madison, SD — Dakota Prairie Playhouse · 2000
- Madison, SD — Missouri River Energy Services · 2005
- Mitchell, SD — State Theater · 1999
- Mitchell, SD — Area Community Theatre · 2003, 2006
- Parker, SD — High School Auditorium · 1999
- Pierre, SD — Riggs High School Auditorium · 2001
- Pierre, SD — Chamber of Commerce, Municipal League · 1998
- Pierre, SD — Ramkota Inn, Kiwanis Club · 2001, 2013
- Pipestone, MN — Pipestone Performing Arts Center · 1999, 2001
- Platte, SD — Lyric Theatre · 2005
- Sheldon, IA · 2005
- Sioux City, IA — Abu-Bekr Shrine Temple · 2003
- Sioux Falls, SD — Orpheum Theatre · 2007, 2013
- Sioux Falls, SD — Sioux Falls Arena, Wally Byam Caravan Club · 2001
- Sioux Falls, SD — Convention Center · 1998, 1999
- Sioux Falls, SD — Ramkota Inn · 1999, 2000, 2001
- Sioux Falls, SD — Holiday Inn · 1998, 2002
- Sioux Falls, SD — Elks Lodge #262 · 1999, 2000
- Sioux Falls, SD — The Oaks · 1999
- Sioux Falls, SD — Westward Ho Country Club · 1998, 1999
- Sioux Falls, SD — El Riad Shrine · 2002, 2003
- Sisseton, SD — Sisseton Theater · 1999
- Spearfish, SD — Matthews Opera House · 1999, 2001, 2004
- Sturgis, SD — Chamber of Commerce · 2001
- Tabor, SD — Bon Homme County Extension · 1999
- Tea, SD — The Barn Theatre · 1998
- Tripp, SD — Idel Hon Theater Co. · 2002
- Vermillion, SD — Slagle Hall, USD · 1999
- Waterloo, IA — Hawkeye Community College · 2006
- Watertown, SD — D.D. Miller Auditorium · 2000
- Watertown, SD — Town Players Community Theater · 2000
- Wessington Springs, SD — Chamber of Commerce · 1999
- Worthington, MN — Noon Kiwanis Club · 2002
- Yankton, SD — Dakota Theatre · 1999, 2000, 2003
Dig Deeper
The scrapbook
Nine years of newspaper clippings, reviews, radio interviews, and kind words from the people who presented the show. We have kept all of it. If you want to spend a while in the archive, it is waiting for you.
Open the scrapbook