After nearly a year and a half, Actors Theatre of Indiana will return to the stage at The Studio Theatre, located in The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, for their first show in the 2021-2022 season.
This new season kicks off with Always … Patsy Cline and will be performed from Friday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 3.
This true tale of friendship is told through the letters of Louise Seger, a devoted fan who befriended Patsy Cline at a Texas honky-tonk. It was the kind of relationship that many fans would love to have with their heroes.
Featuring Cline’s unforgettable hits, this funny and touching tribute celebrates the life and career of the legendary singer who died tragically in a plane crash. “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Walking After Midnight” are just a few of the 27 featured songs. It offers fans who remember Cline a chance to look back, while giving new fans an idea of what she meant to the country music industry and why she was such a superstar.
Meet the cast
Cynthia Collins
Collins
A proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1991, her credits include: Off Broadway, Tours, Regional, Summer Stock, Dinner Theatre, Cruise Lines … with a little film and TV thrown in. Collins has had the honor of working with Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan, Claude Akins, Comden & Green, Cy Coleman, Avery Schreiber, Joel Grey, Cyndi Lauper, Fred Waring and his famous Pennsylvanians, Chita Rivera, Sutton Foster, Diane Rehm, and Billy Stritch.
A native of Livingston, N.J., and longtime resident of New York City, Collins currently resides in Carmel with her partner, Judy Fitzgerald.
“For my parents, John and Melisande, who always filled our home with music.
“Thanks for being here everyone! We are all thrilled to be back on the stage!”
Judy Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald
A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, her credits Include: Radio City Music Hall with Glenn Close; Madison Square Garden with Liza Minnelli & Danny Burstein (conducted by Marvin Hamlisch); and National Tour with Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jones & Omar Sharif. Off Broadway: Swingtime Canteen wtih Tony Award-winner, Charles Busch (Blue Angel); Placido Domingo’s operetta VLAD (Lamb’s Theatre); Dodsworth with John Collum, George Lee Andrews, Dee Hoty (York Theatre, John Houseman Theatre); Irene (Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse); and Face the Music, That’s The Ticket! with Tony Award-winner George S. Irving (Musicals Tonight! Series).
As a Co-Founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana, Fitzgerald was last seen in ATI’s co-production with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at the Palladium. A native of Indiana and long-time resident of New York City, Judy currently resides in Carmel. Much love to her ever-supportive family, her partner, Cindy, and her amazing daughter, Lizzie.
Terry Woods, Musical Director
Woods
Terry Woods has been a musical director at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. He has directed countless shows including his favorites: “West Side Story, Man Of La Mancha and Mamma Mia!” An Indianapolis native, he has worked for Actors Theatre of Indiana on Forever Plaid, My Way, and A Year With Frog And Toad, not to mention a Hoagy Carmichael review that he co-wrote and starred in. He has worked on several productions at Indiana Repertory Theatre including 11 seasons with their very popular A Christmas Carol.
While he resided in New York, he worked around the world in productions of West Side Story (European Tour) and The Sheraton New Orleans production of French Quarter Follies. He spent three summers at Gateway Playhouse on Long Island. He also worked at Walt Disney World as a musician, technician and puppeteer for EPCOT.
Bill Jenkins, Director
Jenkins
Bill Jenkins says he is tremendously excited to return to ATI where he previously directed Ruthless, It Shoulda Been You, The Fantasticks, and the original incarnation of Always … Patsy Cline.
Jenkins is an active professional director who is a proud member of the Society of Director’s and Choreographers Union (SDC). In addition to ATI, his directing resume includes over 50 shows at venues such as Drury Lane Oakbrook, Noble Fool Theatricals, The Clarence Brown Theatre, The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and The Nebraska Repertory Theatre, among others.
Jenkins says he is proud to be the Chair of Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance where he serves as a full professor of Musical Theatre, Directing, and Acting. Since arriving at Ball State, he has directed several shows including The Laramie Project (which was selected as the national alternate for the KC/ACTF Competition), The Drowsy Chaperone and Shrek (with guest faculty member Sutton Foster), Baby, Noises Off, Damn Yankees, 42nd Street, A Flea in Her Ear, A Little Night Music, Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Doubt, among others.
In addition to his directorial credits, Professor Jenkins is the past president of the Mid-America Theatre Conference (MATC), a proud recipient of the prestigious MATC Fellowes Award for Lifetime Achievement, and he was named Outstanding Administrator at Ball State in 2015 as well as the prestigious Benny Award as the Outstanding Alumnus from Ball State University in 2018. Jenkins received his MFA in directing from Illinois State University, and also holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in communication studies and acting.
Jenkins says his greatest role is that of husband to his wife Sarah and father to his children, Catherine Rose and Teddy Ryan.
Abigail Tomlin, Production Stage Manager
Tomlin
Abigail Tomlin is a native of Lebanon, Ind., and holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre with a focus in Production Stage Management from Ball State University. Professionally she has worked at a variety of theatres and venues such as Drury Lane Theatre, Big Noise Theatre, DMT Entertainment, Roosevelt University, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Music Theatre Works, and Actors Theatre of Indiana. Tomlin says she is excited to be working her first season as the Production Stage Manager for Actors Theatre of Indiana.
Nathan Perry, Conductor/Pianist
Perry earned undergraduate (cum laude) and graduate music degrees from Butler University, where he studied piano with Martin Marks, Panayis Lyras and Gary Walters. He has music-directed, conducted or accompanied dozens of musicals in many Indianapolis and Atlanta theatres including Beef & Boards, Actors Theatre of Indiana, Eclipse and Summer Stock Stage.
Perry has worked extensively in church music, on staff since 1996. He has been a music educator since 2002 for levels kindergarten through college in many roles, including band, strings, choir, music theory and private instrumental lessons. He currently teaches at Park Tudor School. Choirs that he has assisted include Butler’s Jordan Jazz, Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Tara Choral Guild, and Circle the State with Song Festivals. He is a regular adjudicator at piano and band competitions for ISSMA.
Perry has appeared as piano soloist with the Peachtree Pops Orchestra and was the inaugural winner of the Young Hoosier Pianist Competition. He is the Band Leader of the Bodacious Bobcats.
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Performances run Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at The Center for the Performing Arts Box Office by calling (317) 843-3800, by visiting thecenterpresents.org, or visit Actors Theatre of Indiana’s website at atistage.org.