From The Director of "Always...Patsy Cline."

Returning to North Little Rock after 25 years of living and working across the United States and Mexico has been both grounding and emotional. So much of my artistic life began here, and it feels right that my directorial debut at Argenta Contemporary Theatre is a story rooted in this region—one that celebrates friendship, music, and the spirit of the South.

I remember when the first national tour of Always, Patsy Cline came back home to Arkansas Rep. That's right, this show premiered in Houston and the first national tour was produce by

The Rep. At the time, I was a high school student working at the theatre, absorbing everything I could from the artists around me. I was astonished that a production that began in Little Rock could travel all over the country. It expanded my understanding of what was possible. Until then, theatre felt local to me—vital, but contained. Seeing that tour helped me understand that stories created here could resonate far beyond our state lines.

What I couldn’t have known then was how far my own artistic journey would take me: working in theatres, universities, and communities across the country; collaborating with artists from many traditions; creating new work, directing, teaching, and producing; and spending meaningful time living and working in Mexico. Those experiences shaped me, but they also clarified something simple and lasting—the importance of place, of community, and of telling stories that feel true to where we come from.

That’s one of the reasons Always, Patsy Cline feels like the perfect story to share at this moment.

This is a Southern story—created and first shared in the South, rooted in the sounds, values, and relationships that shaped Patsy Cline long before her music reached national fame. It’s worth remembering that Always, Patsy Cline did not begin on Broadway. It premiered in Houston, Texas, and Arkansas Rep produced the first national tour, helping carry this story of friendship and country music across the country. In many ways, this play has always belonged to the South.

That lineage matters to me. As I make my directorial debut at Argenta Contemporary Theatre, I’m deeply grateful that my first production here is one that honors Southern storytelling, deep friendship, and the transformative power of music. Always, Patsy Cline is not a biography in the traditional sense. It’s a love letter—to an unlikely friendship, to shared memories, and to the way art and music accompany us through our lives.

At the heart of this production are two extraordinary collaborators.

Jessica Crenshaw, who plays Patsy, and I have shared nearly three decades of friendship, creative collaboration, and meditation practice. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of witnessing Jessica tell stories through many art forms—visual art, music, writing, and now theatre. She has a rare ability to weave presence, vulnerability, and imagination into everything she creates. Watching her step into Patsy’s music and spirit has been profoundly moving. This role feels less like a performance and more like a continuation of a lifelong artistic conversation.

Laurie Pascale, who plays Louise, is another treasured collaborator. We last worked

together on PIPPIN at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre in 2014, and returning to the rehearsal room with her feels like coming home. Laurie brings heart, humor, and quiet strength to every role she inhabits. Louise is the keeper of the story—the fan, the friend, the witness—and Laurie’s generosity as an actor allows the audience to see themselves in Louise’s memories, hopes, and delight.

What has been especially meaningful in this process is the mix of long-standing relationships and new artistic voices. This cast and creative team are building something together that feels playful, grounded, and alive. We’re creating the world of Louise’s memories—the joy, the humor, the intimacy, and the tenderness of time spent with someone who leaves a lasting mark on your life.

At its core, Always...Patsy Cline is about connection. It’s about how friendships form in unexpected ways, how music becomes a companion through joy and heartbreak, and how stories—when shared—keep people with us long after they’re gone.

For me, directing this piece here, now, carries an added layer of meaning. After decades of traveling, collaborating, and making work in many different places, I find myself back in the community where my artistic life began—sitting in rehearsal rooms not so different from the ones where I first learned by watching, listening, and dreaming about what might be possible.

The truth is, the theatre has always been a place of return. We return to stories, to music, to one another. And sometimes, if we’re lucky, we return home.

I can’t wait to welcome you into Louise’s memories, Patsy’s music, and this heartfelt Southern story that feels right at home on our stage.

— Jeremy Williams Director, Always, Patsy Cline,

Executive Director, Argenta Contemporary Theatre

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