Bringing Patsy and Louise to Life: A Conversation with Jessica Crenshaw and Laurie Pascale

Photos by Logan Keown.

Under a single spotlight, Patsy Cline steps forward and sings—her voice filling the room, immediate and unmistakable. For Jessica Crenshaw, making her theatrical debut in that moment carried both vulnerability and strength.

“There was a moment in tech rehearsals when the spotlight first comes on and it’s blinding. There is something humbling about that. It makes you feel vulnerable and yet there is so much power in that.”

A few minutes later, another presence emerges—not from backstage, but from the audience itself. The lights shift to Louise Seger and from her seat she begins to tell her story, turning listeners into confidants as she moves through the room, carrying them into her memories.

“Actors are storytellers; moving in and out as a participant just seems to be a natural way of storytelling for me. The audience is just another character; the fourth wall does not exist,” says Laurie Pascale.

“It is great fun looking into people’s eyes telling them this story!”

Laurie speaks directly to them, searching faces, inviting them into the story. In the intimate space of ACT II, there is no separation—only music, memory, and two women whose lives intersected in ways neither expected. 

For Jessica, a longtime folk singer, this was her first theatrical production. Just a couple of months earlier, the idea had barely seemed possible.

“My dear friend asked me to! He mentioned the first show he was going to direct at ACT was a story about Patsy Cline. For a split second I thought: Now that’s a role I’d like. But I dismissed it immediately because I have never ‘theatered’ before. A few weeks later Jeremy approached me about the role and I said yes.”

Jessica came to the role with a lifelong connection to Patsy’s music, but the process of portraying her revealed new depths.

“I’ve listened to Patsy Cline my whole life… I read a biography about her, read some of her letters, I watched some videos of her that are out there, but mostly I listened to her sing.”

What she found was not just a legendary voice, but a determined artist.

“I took a deep dive in her music and came away with so much respect for her talent, her drive and her vision, both as a country music singer and a woman trying to define success in a male dominated industry.”

Some songs remain especially close to her heart.

“I love singing Crazy, She’s Got You, and If You’ve Got Leaving on Your Mind. Those songs touch me in a special way.”

The presence of the live band—visible, breathing, and responding in real time—changed everything.

“That really pulled it all together! I love playing with a band, so when that element was added, things got electric.”

Laurie feels that electricity too, even as her role is rooted in storytelling rather than song.

“It’s thrilling! I’ve always had the fantasy of being a back-up singer in a band, this is probably the closest I will ever get! Its live, it can be different every night, so I go with the flow.”

At the center of the production is the relationship between Patsy and Louise—a friendship that grows from strangers to confidantes. Offstage, Jessica and Laurie found their own rhythm.

“Well, I love Laurie. She is so warm and funny. She welcomed this newbie with open arms and has been so kind… I’ve seen our relationship continue to develop as we’ve moved through the show.”

Laurie approached that collaboration with care, recognizing both the responsibility of portraying real people and the courage of someone stepping into theatre for the first time.

“These were real people. As we’ve gotten to know our characters and become comfortable in their skins, we’ve just opened up exploring how these women would have reacted to each other.”

“I hope I have been helpful to Jessica. I have tried to be open but not a know-it-all. Just the good ole Golden Rule for me.”

Both artists describe Argenta Contemporary Theatre as a place defined by welcome and community.

“Community is the perfect word,” Jessica says. “Everyone has been so welcoming… everyone has been so nice and supportive of all my ‘I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing’ questions!”

Laurie agrees:

“Everyone has been very welcoming and the production crew, management, staff has been top notch!”

That spirit extends beyond the theatre walls. For Jessica, telling this story in Argenta feels especially fitting.

“On the face of it, Louise and Patsy are an unlikely pair, but they found they had so much in common… You see community everywhere you look in Argenta. It's a very creative and alive place for an artist.”

Night after night, they watch audiences lean forward—listening, laughing, remembering.

“When they respond to my questions, I know they are listening,” Laurie says. “I love seeing them enjoying the music, some seem to be traveling back in time.”

It’s a reminder of why the story endures.

“Timeless music, a great story and great storytelling!”

Jessica hopes audiences leave changed, even in small ways.

“I would like them to escape from ordinary life for a moment and fall into Patsy’s music and heart. I’d love it if this show introduces some young music lovers to Patsy’s music. She’s an icon.”

In the intimate space of ACT II, there are no barriers—only music, memory, and two performers carrying a friendship forward, one story at a time.

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Performances through Sunday, March 8!

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