Crystal Bowersox, the "American Idol" Season Nine runner-up whose soulful tone made her a fan favorite, will play legendary country singer Patsy Cline in an upcoming Broadway show to premiere in New York this summer.
"Crystal is the ideal performer to play Patsy Cline," co-producer Jeff Cohen told
Billboard. "In what amounts to a life-imitates-art twist, Patsy Cline was discovered on 'The Arthur Godfrey Show,' the number one TV talent show of its day. And Crystal was discovered on 'American Idol,' the number one TV talent show today."
"Patsy Cline… Always," written in 1988 by Ted Swindley, features a live band and 27 Patsy Cline tracks, including "Walkin' After Midnight," "I Fall to Pieces," "Crazy," and "She's Got You." The musical is based on the true story of Cline's relationship with Louise Seger, a fan from Houston who struck up a friendship with Cline.
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After coming in second on Season Nine of "American Idol," Bowersox released her debut album "Farmer's Daughter." Her sophomore effort, "All That For This," dropped Wednesday. She also did some acting in 2011 on ABC's "Burden of Proof."
Bowersox isn’t the first "Idol" alum to make the jump to Broadway. Other contestants include Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken, Jordin Sparks, and Constantine Maroulis, who returns this year in "Jekyll and Hyde." Plans fell through for another alumni, Bo Bice, to make his Broadway debut this spring when his show "Pump Boys & Dinettes" was scrapped.
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Patsy Cline, a Country Music Hall of Famer who was widely considered one of the most influential and successful female vocalists of the 20th century, died in 1963 at age 30 at the height of her career in a plane crash. The Broadway production marks the 50th anniversary of Cline's death.
"Patsy Cline… Always" will be directed by John Rando. Performances are set to begin in July, with a grand opening in August.
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