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Rapid Fire 20Q: ‘Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology’ Star Courtney Linam and Playwright Joy Tilley Perryman Keep the Iconic Singer’s Legacy Alive

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Some voices are simply unforgettable, and more than 60 years after her untimely death at just 30, Patsy Cline’s remains one of them. From the heartbreak of “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy” to the timeless appeal of “Walkin’ After Midnight,” her music continues to find new generations of fans, proving that some legacies really are built to last. Enter Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology, an original theatrical tribute written by Joy Tilley Perryman and starring Courtney Linam as the legendary country songstress, accompanied by a live band. Rather than simply retracing the familiar milestones of Patsy’s life, Perryman takes a more intimate approach, imagining the singer reflecting on her journey in the moments before her final flight, weaving together memories, music, and the extraordinary story behind that unmistakable voice.

Linam and Perryman are bringing Patsy’s story to The Venue at Coosa Landing in Gadsden for two performances, November 7 and 8. Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology is just the latest in a creative partnership has included costarring in both The Ritz’s 2024 presentation of Steel Magnolias and last year’s Queens of Heart at The Local Scene. Having reunited this past summer to present the anthology debut performances in Atlanta in July, then again just last month in nearby Oneonta, Alabama, this week’s presentation marks the show’s Gadsden premiere.

From discovering the woman behind the iconic voice and recreating her signature look to the inspiration behind an original Patsy Cline musical, Perryman and Linam’s latest creative adventure has plenty to dish about. JHPENTERTAINMENT caught up with both women for a Rapid Fire 20Q about the music, the memories, the magic of collaboration, and why, when it comes to Patsy Cline, Love Never Dies.

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH LOVE NEVER DIES: A PATSY CLINE ANTHOLOGY STAR AND PLAYWRIGHT

RAPID FIRE WITH LOVE NEVER DIES: A PATSY CLINE ANTHOLOGY PLAYWRIGHT, JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When did the idea of creating Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology first begin to take shape?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Courtney had played Patsy in Theatre of Gadsden’s production of Always…Patsy Cline. I did the costumes for that show and we had a great time working on together and she makes an utterly fantastic Patsy. Then a year later our dear friend, Mike Beecham approached us about bringing a Patsy show to his theatre in Atlanta. But he wanted something different that what was already out there, so I just decided to write a new show!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those who might be familiar with other Patsy Cline stage musicals like Always…Patsy Cline and A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, what makes Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology unique?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: To write this show, I wanted to make it more of a memory play. As if Patsy were looking back on her life in those moments before the plane went down. So we start at the end. The last concert where Patsy performed was on March 3, 1963 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, It was a benefit for DJ “Catcus” Jack Call. The last song she ever sang was “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone”. The lyrics are haunting and that is where we start our show and then back in time to her beginnings at the Grand Ole Opry.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Beyond the basic biographical details and familiar stories most fans know, were there lesser-known aspects of Patsy’s life, personality, relationships, or career that particularly surprised you or helped shape the anthology?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Sitting down to decided the songlist and put the songs in some kind of order, made me really see how sad and tragic her life truly was. Besides the tragedy of a far too early death, Patsy overcame many hardships along the way.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: During her all-too-brief career as a recording artist, Patsy recorded more than 100 songs. Aside from the more familiar hits, have you included any deep-cuts to tell this story?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: The very first song is an extremely deep cut and it was quite difficult to find the sheet music. We never found it in Patsy’s key and had to have it transposed. Once you hear it it context of the show it is haunting and beautiful and totally perfect.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You and Courtney have worked together repeatedly. What makes Courtney someone you keep coming back to as a creative collaborator, and how has your working relationship evolved over the years?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: I cannot really talk about Courtney without getting all gushing and fangirling and being all sentimental. She is one of the most talented people I have ever known. She stepped into my life at a time when I most desperately needed a creative collaborator and a dear friend. She is a superstar in all those regards. I cannot express how much she means to me and how blessed I am to call her friend. We joke and call ourselves the Bad Decision Sisters, but she is right by my side no matter how nutty the plans get or how impossible the project seems. Look out for our next venture! We are opening a booth at an antique mall called Bad Decision Sisters Shop! Coming at the end of November to Kolectic Treasures in Rainbow City, Alabama.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re wearing several hats with this production: playwright, collaborator, and costumer. As costumer, how do you balance historical authenticity with the practical demands of a live theatrical performance?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: I have scoured hundreds of images of Patsy Cline. And I was able to recreate looks with modern fabrics so there is no worry about damaging an historical garment. I think I most proud of her first costume. It is almost an exact replica of the gown Patsy wore in her last concert and it appears onstage for exactly one song!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy’s songs are famous for their emotional honesty, whether she’s singing about heartbreak, longing, resilience, or love. If Patsy were around today, what recent song might she have covered?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: So, lately we don’t have the girl singers that we used to have (sorry Ella, I do love you) so I think Patsy would have had to take a man’s song and change the perspective so it could be sung by a woman. For my money the best song this year as far as story telling and longing and just good music is Graylan James’ “Water at a Wedding”. I think Patsy would have worked that to suit her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy was only 30 when her life ended, but her career was already transforming the sound and reach of country music. As the writer looking at the full arc of her story, where do you imagine her career might have taken her had she lived to continue recording and performing for decades to come?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: I believe she would have continued to make hit records and be at the top of the charts until she decided she was ready to scale it back and enjoy grandkids and retirement.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The title Love Never Dies feels particularly fitting for an artist whose music continues to connect with people long after her passing. Why was that the right title for this anthology, and what do you hope audiences understand about Patsy’s enduring legacy when they leave the theatre?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: That phrase actually comes from part of the inscription on her tombstone. I hope that people will walk away with a new or deeper appreciation for her music and her legacy and the knowledge that as long as we continue to sing her music, the love never dies.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Having already presented Love Never Dies in Atlanta and nearby Oneonta and now bringing it to Gadsden for these two performances, have you and Courtney discussed taking the production on the road? Are there any plans for other cities eventually have the opportunity to experience your Patsy Cline anthology? I mean…Nashville is always up for a visit from you…just sayin’.

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Having debuted this show back during the summer in Atlanta with EPIC Productions, this is our third production of the show. We are ready to go any and everywhere that will have us! Just give us a call and you know I am always ready to come back home to Music City!

RAPID FIRE WITH LOVE NEVER DIES: A PATSY CLINE ANTHOLOGY‘s COURTNEY LINAM

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy Cline remains one of country music’s most beloved and influential voices, more than six decades after her death. What do you think it is about her voice, her music, and her story that continues to resonate with audiences across generations?

COURTNEY LINAM: Honesty. When Patsy sings, you believe every word, because she isn’t performing heartbreak, she’s living it right there in front of you. Her voice had this rare combination of power and tenderness. Her story matters too. She was a small-town girl from Virginia who fought her way into a business that didn’t make much room for women and she did it on her own terms. People still connect to that. Every generation has someone who’s been lonely, or lovesick, or underestimated, and Patsy’s songs meet them right where they are.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Every actor who portrays a legendary performer faces the challenge of honoring the original while bringing something of themselves to the role. How did you go about finding your Patsy Cline voice, and how do you balance imitation with interpretation?

COURTNEY LINAM: I listened. A lot. In the car, in the kitchen, before bed. I studied her phrasing, those little catches in her voice I refer to them as Patsy-isms, the way she’d lean into a note and then let it fall. Nobody can replace Patsy, and I’d never want to try. So my goal is to honor her style and her signature sound while singing from my own heart. The imitation gets you in the door; the interpretation is what makes people feel something. I want the audience to feel like they’re spending an evening with Patsy, not watching a copy of her.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy was primarily a country artist, but her music crossed genres, earning her success on the pop charts as well. She was also part of the emerging Nashville Sound and recorded gospel music. How does exploring those different sides of her musical legacy influence your approach to portraying her?

COURTNEY LINAM: It reminds me that she was never just one thing. You’ve got the early honky-tonk Patsy, the cowgirl who could sing a rowdy, up tempo number, and then you’ve got the polished Nashville Sound Patsy with the strings and the smooth backing vocals, singing ballads that made the pop charts. And then the gospel side, which shows you where so much of that feeling came from. Each style asks something different of me vocally, but more than that, each one reveals a different side of who she was.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy had a distinctive look as well as an unmistakable voice. With Joy Tilley Perryman serving as both the playwright and the show’s costumer, how much collaboration goes into bringing Patsy’s appearance to life? And do you have a favorite Patsy look or era that you especially enjoy recreating?

COURTNEY LINAM: So much! Joy has such an eye for detail, and because she wrote the show, she knows exactly what each moment needs to say, so the costumes are telling the story right along with the songs. We talk through every look, how it fits the era, how it moves on stage, and of course whether I can breathe and sing in it! As for a favorite, I have a real soft spot for the western-style outfits from her early years, the fringe and the boots. There’s something so spunky and fearless about that Patsy.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: In additon to this collaboration, you’ve also costarred alongside Joy in a couple of shows, so you’ve experienced her as a fellow performer as well as a writer. How is working with Joy the playwright different from working with Joy the costar?

COURTNEY LINAM: As a costar, Joy is just so incredible. I’ve loved watching her work and learning from her as a fellow actress. As a playwright, she’s the keeper of the vision. She knows why every line and every song is where it is, and she can tell you exactly what she’s hoping a scene will make the audience feel. What’s the same in both is her heart. Joy wrote this show as a love letter to Patsy, and the fact that she created this role with me in mind means more to me than I can say. And she’s not only beside me on stage or watching from the house. She’s also on the sidelines, because she has been my “dresser” in every production in which I’ve portrayed Patsy Cline, and this will be my fourth time! She stays so calm during those really fast changes, and that allows me to stay in character. We laugh because I’ve become so needy of her being my dresser, although I know one day I’ll have to let her go so she can just relax and enjoy the show. Wherever she is, I always know she’s got my back.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Love Never Dies is presented with a live band, which brings its own energy and immediacy to Patsy’s music. What can you tell me about the musicians accompanying you?

COURTNEY LINAM: Oh, I am so incredibly lucky! We’ve got Deborah Sarcinelli on piano, Sid Brown on drums, Rob Bruce on guitar, Nick Staff on bass, and Butch Dixon on pedal steel. Every one of them is incredibly talented, and together they bring so many years of musical experience to this stage. The second that band starts playing, you’re transported straight back to 1960s Nashville. Honestly, the music they make is so beautiful that sometimes I get lost in it and almost forget I’m supposed to be singing! A live band changes everything.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: The show features nearly 30 tunes recorded by Cline during her career. Is there a particular song in the anthology that feels especially personal to you, or one that challenges you in a way the others don’t?

COURTNEY LINAM: “Crazy” is the one that challenges me every single time. Everyone knows it, everyone has her version in their head, and it’s deceptively hard. It’s slow, it’s exposed, and the phrasing has to feel effortless even though it’s anything but. As for personal favorites, I love singing “Two Cigarettes in an Ashtray.” It tells such a great story, and it’s so much fun to sing. I also really love “Eyes of a Child.” It’s so hopeful and beautiful, and between the song and the gorgeous dialogue Joy wrote leading into it, I get chills every time. They’re two very different songs, so it’s hard to pick just one!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Joy’s theatre background covers a lot of bases, having been an actress, costumer, playwright, producer and more. Does having a collaborator who understands the material from so many different angles help you inhabit Patsy and tell her story?

COURTNEY LINAM: Absolutely. Joy understands what it feels like to be the one standing in the light, so when she gives a note, she knows what she’s asking of an actor. But she also sees the whole picture: the costumes, the pacing, the music, what the audience needs and when. That means nothing is an afterthought. When everything around me is so thoughtfully built, I can stop worrying about the details and just be Patsy. That kind of trust is rare, and it frees me up to go deeper every performance.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Patsy’s life and career were tragically cut short when she died at just 30, yet her influence has only grown. When you think about the years of music and artistic evolution she never got to experience, what do you imagine the next chapter of her career might have looked like?

COURTNEY LINAM: I think about this all the time. She was only just getting started. I imagine she would have kept crossing over. She had the voice for pop, for torch songs, even for jazz standards, and I can picture her on the big Las Vegas stages and on television variety shows. I also think she would have become a mentor. She was already looking out for younger women like Loretta Lynn, and I believe she would’ve been a fierce advocate for women in country music for decades. In true Patsy fashion,she would have kept doing it all her own way.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: After revisiting Patsy’s life and music through this anthology, what do you hope audiences will take away about the woman behind the songs—and what do you hope they carry with them after the final note?

COURTNEY LINAM: I hope they see that behind the legend was a real woman: funny, tough, loving, sometimes stubborn, and deeply devoted to her family and her friends. She wasn’t just a voice on a record; she was a person who fought hard for her dreams and gave everything she had to her music. And after the final note, I hope people carry home the memories of their own loved ones that come rushing back when they hear those Patsy songs. Patsy’s music has always kept me close to the memory of my Meemaw, and I know so many people in that audience have someone they think of when “Crazy” or “Walkin’ After Midnight” comes on. The people we love, and the music that moves us, don’t really leave us. Patsy’s grave marker reads, “Death cannot kill what never dies: Love”. Patsy’s been gone more than 60 years, and she’s still filling rooms with feeling. That’s a legacy worth celebrating.

Love Never Dies: A Patsy Cline Anthology starring Courtney Linam as Patsy Cline, with a live band, in an original production written by Joy Tilley Perryman and presented by Joy’s Jubilations arrives at The Venue at Coosa Landing (201 George Wallace Drive, Gadsden, AL 35903) for two performances, Saturday, November 7 at 7:30pm and a Sunday matinee November 8 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $22.37 (fees included). All seating is General Admission with doors opening half and hour prior to each showtime. Purchase Tickets HERE. 

To keep up with Joy’s Jubilations and what’s next, find them on Facebook. And as Perryman mentioned, something tells me a Bad Decision Sisters Facebook page is in the works for this dynamic duo’s non-theatrical endeavors.

As always, if you wanna follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire Q&A, or for my take on the latest local and national theatre, music, arts and more, visit JHPENTERTAINMENT.com or find us on Facebook, Insta, Threads and X.

Rapid Fire 20Q with Cast of Joy’s Jubilations’ Presentation of ‘Queens of Heart’; at Gadsden, Alabama’s The Local Scene October 17 thru 25

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Playwright Lydia Bushfield has entertained Southern audiences for years having penned such plays as Yule Y’all, I’ll Be Seeing You and The Bop She Bops and now it’s Gadsden’s turn to sample a bit of her Southern sass when her play QUEENS OF HEART , as directed by Joy Tilley Perryman, makes it’s Alabama debut. The show takes centerstage at The Local Scene at 118 (118 Chestnut Street, Gadsden, AL 35901) with performances October 17-25. Produced by Gadsden’s own Joy’s Jubilations, this heart-filled comedy follows a group of Southern women who gather weekly for game night to swap stories, share secrets, and deal with life’s ups and downs—one hand at a time.

Among the cast, Perryman plays the ever-honest, but often brutally truthful Rose Kincaid, a role she’s familiar with, having first played her during the show’s World Premiere back in 2003. For the show’s Alabama premiere,  Perryman is joined by an exceptional cast of local and regional talent. Alongside Perryman, the show also features Kathleen Jensen as the wise and wry Doris Ducacus, Katie Campbell as newcomer Alice Anderson, Angie Smith Townsel as sweet and sincere Betty Linwell, Jean Leah Atkins as the big-hearted Faith Middleton, and Courtney Linam as the spirited Emily Patterson.

As the queens were fine-tuning their performances…and their game faces…we recently sat down with Perryman, Jensen, Campbell and Linam for JHPEntertainment’s latest Rapid Fire 20Q to talk poker nights, Southern charm, and the real-life friendships on- and off-stage that make this show shine.

RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST MEMBERS OF JOY’s JUBILATIONS’ QUEENS OF HEART

RAPID FIRE WITH QUEENS OF HEART’s DORIS, KATHLEEN JENSEN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When Joy Tilley Perryman reached out to me about the possibility of doing a Rapid Fire 20Q with cast members of QUEENS OF HEART, I was excited to see a couple of familiar names, yours included, the two of us having chatted back in 2023 when you appeared in a production of Sordid Lives at The Ritz in Gadsden. What can you tell me about Doris Ducacus, your role in QUEENS OF HEART?

KATHLEEN JENSEN: Doris is Smart Alec of the group. She is also very insightful, devoted to her daughter and very much in love with her husband, Harry.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: According to the character breakdown in the script, Doris is meeker and milder than Rose, making them a good balance. So, I gotta know…as scene partners, who’s really keeping the scales steady on stage and who’s the one tipping them over?

KATHLEEN JENSEN: Like you say Rose and Doris are a good balance much like Joy and myself. We lift each other up.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: There’s a quote in that other play about a group of southern friends…as Dolly Parton’s Truvy says in Steel Magnolias, “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”. That could easily be one of Doris’ lines as she brings up a bit of a secret to her girlfriends. As an actress, how do you prepare yourself to switch from the more lighthearted moments to the more serious ones?

KATHLEEN JENSEN: It’s kind of like life therefore I try to draw from real life experiences. You have to find a similar experience to capture the feeling.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Right off the bat playwright Lydia Bushfield sets the overall humorous tone of the show with Doris’ line “She’s been nipped and tucked more times than a good pleated drape” Do you have a favorite in the show, whether one you get to deliver, or one you wish was Doris’?

KATHLEEN JENSEN: “If that woman pulls her skin any tighter, she will have to pierce her nipples to wear earrings.” Doris is always ragging on Shania.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A large portion of the play takes place around a game table. If you and a group of friends were to get together for game night, what game would you insist on playing?

KATHLEEN JENSEN: Spades, I am a champion, spades player!

RAPID FIRE WITH QUEENS OF HEART’s ALICE, KATIE CAMPBELL

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this is your theatre debut. When did you first realize you might want to try your hand at acting? 

KATIE CAMPBELL: I have always had the idea in the back of my mind. I have the heart of an entertainer for sure. But my daughter is who pushed me to try it. She is fearless and talented, and I want to make her proud. 

 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I think my favorite of Alice’s lines is “Bein’ a southern woman is all about keepin’ up appearances. God forbid that one of us should admit that we are havin’ a bad day.” Playwright Lydia Bushfield hit the nail on the head with that one, don’t you think?

KATIE CAMPBELL: Sure, I do. We put the world on our shoulders. I would venture to say that that could be true for all women, though. We are natural caretakers. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: If you could play another character in this show, regardless of whether you ‘fit the type’ or not, who would it be and why?

KATIE CAMPBELL: Betty! I’ve been her before and I admire that type of independence in a woman. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: As Alice, you’re at the heart of one of the show’s most surprising twists. Without giving anything away, how much fun are you having playing this part?

KATIE CAMPBELL: It’s much more fun than I thought it would be! When I read the script I was a little intimidated, but our director, the one and only Joy, helped me find my voice. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your bio reveals that you’re a licensed massage therapist. Who among the ladies of QUEENS OF HEART would benefit most from a session with you at your day job?

KATIE CAMPBELL: That is so hard to say because after all of this is said and done, we’ll all need a good massage. I’m gonna go with Emily though. That girl sure was goin’ through it. 

RAPID FIRE WITH QUEENS OF HEART’s EMILY, COURTNEY LINAM

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When I chatted with Kathleen, I mentioned that I was excited to see her name among those I’d be chatting with, having interviewed her before. The same goes for you, the two of us having chatted just last year when you were starring in Steel Magnolias at The Ritz. Now here you are as Emily in yet another tale of southern friendships. What was it about QUEENS OF HEART and the role of Emily that drew you to audition?

COURTNEY LINAM: Thank you so much for this interview—it’s always great to chat with you! I loved getting to visit with you last year during Steel Magnolias, and I’m just as grateful to reconnect again for QUEENS OF HEART.

I was immediately drawn to Emily because she’s so real. She’s fun-loving, hopeful, and just trying to get it right—even when life keeps throwing her detours. I love that QUEENS OF HEART celebrates friendship, strength, and those moments when women lift each other up.

I was also drawn to the play because I was so excited to be directed by one of the most talented people I know—Joy Tilley Perryman. She has such a gift for bringing out truth and heart in every story, and I knew that under her direction, this show would be something special.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While reading the script to familiarize myself with the play before chatting with you and your costars, I immediately picked up on the name of the town where all the action takes place…Fate, Texas. So, just curious…do you believe in fate, free will, or a mix of the two?

COURTNEY LINAM: It’s really a mix. I think fate puts certain people and moments in our path, but free will decides what we do with them. Emily’s story shows that perfectly—she might’ve been led down the aisle by fate, but it was her own strength, and the help of her true friends, that gave her the courage to walk away from something that wasn’t right.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: On the subject of the play’s Texas setting, the script contains a note from the playwright about the Texas dialect. During the rehearsal process was there discussion on just how Texas the cast would sound? Where have you personally drawn your Texas drawl from?

COURTNEY LINAM: Oh yes, we had plenty of fun with that! The goal was to sound authentically Southern without needing subtitles. I’m more Alabama than Texas, but there’s a shared sweetness and rhythm to both accents that feels like home. I leaned into that warm, melodic tone—you know, the kind that can make a compliment or a comeback sound equally charming.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Is there any aspect of Emily’s personality that you might adapt to your own?

COURTNEY LINAM: Her courage to finally put herself first. Emily’s been through a lot of “almost right” love stories, but she finds her voice and realizes she doesn’t have to settle. That message really stuck with me—it’s never too late to choose peace, joy, and the people who truly love you for who you are.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Early in the play, there’s mention of Emily’s poker face. In your real life, do you have a poker face, or can folks generally tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your expression?

COURTNEY LINAM: Oh, I absolutely have a poker face—and I’m actually pretty good at poker, too! I can keep a straight face when I need to, which comes in handy both on stage and at the card table. But catch me off guard with something funny, and I’m done for—no hiding that laugh. I think that balance is what makes acting fun for me—being able to control your expression when it counts, but also knowing when to just let the real emotion show.

RAPID FIRE WITH QUEENS OF HEART’s ROSE, JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You’re no stranger to Rose Kincaid, having been portrayed the role back in 2003 during the World Premiere performance of QUEENS OF HEART at Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville and now you’re spearheading the Alabama premiere. What is it about this show and the role of Rose that drew you back in?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: The show is such a lovely story of female friendships and female interactions. Then throw in that is a group of Southern women and some of the best lines ever written and I have always wanted to go back and sit at rose’s table one more time. When I first contacted the playwright, my dear friend Lydia Bushfield about remounting the show, she had doubts, She thought it might be dated (she did bring it forward in time just a bit) but I assured her that the stories and the companionship these women share is timeless. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When chatting with one of you cast mates, I noted that QUEENS OF HEART shares some similarities with another play about a group of southern women, Steel Magnolias. Do you think it’s a fair comparison? And what would you say to fans of that show to get them to check out this one?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: I think it is a fair comparison and I think fans of the Magnolias will LOVE the QUEENS! If you enjoy heartfelt shows with true to life depictions of what it means to have a strong group of girlfriends, then come see the show. And bonus, Poker!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: When you and I first talked about me featuring the cast of Queens of Heart in a Rapid Fire 20Q, you mentioned that you’d secured a great venue for the performances. What can you tell me about the venue and how does it lend itself to the action of the play?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: As you know, I moved back to my hometown in 2021. When I left Gadsden, AL in 1985 the downtown area was a dead place. Like most small Southern towns, when the mall came in, downtown dried up. But in the years since I have been gone, downtown Gadsden has reinvented itself! We have a thriving entertainment district and one of the best art museums in the state. And we have murals all over just like Nashville! I work my day job on Chestnut Street, one block from Broad Street and when I was thinking of finding space to do this show it hit me like a ton of beautiful bricks. The space at the top of Chestnut was vacant. It is owned by a school chum and her husband, so I called Syndee and asked if she was open to a short term rental. Built in 1930, it is a lovely brick building with a  big open space and smaller rooms to use as dressing rooms. It has 2 big store windows that I have used as my marquee, so to speak. It is store front theatre, I can only fit about 45 chairs. But folks will truly feel like they are in Rose’s living room. And the best part? The store next door, that my friend Syndee owns? It is called The Stone Market and is the best wine shop around! She is going to extend her hours on Fridays and Saturdays, so folks can bring a glass of wine over to the show. 

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While reading the script in preparation of chatting with you, when Rose responds to Betty revealing where a particularly uneventful date took her to dinner. Rose’s line, “He did not take you to Sonic”, could easily be a throwaway, but having seen you in a number of plays over the years, I could hear you delivering that line as I read it and it made me giggle. Without giving too much away, what’s your favorite line or scene in the play?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: That is one of my favorite lines! I totally channel my MawMaw Thompson in the delivery. I take her delivery of the phrase “You don’t mean” and apply it to the Sonic line. But I do love the scene after the wedding. You will have to buy a ticket to get to see the sherbet-colored bridesmaid dress! And matching headdress. Trust me it is worth the price of admission.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences take with them after spending a little time with the ladies of QUEENS OF HEART?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: I told someone recently that the role of theatre has always been to entertain and maybe sometimes to uplift and educate. But in these perilous times when there is so much hate and anger and just ugliness around every corner, I hope the audiences will come away with love. That the love these 6 women have for each other can spill out and over and in to everyone’s lives and maybe ease the sorrow for just a bit. They are not all alike, they do not share the same views or life experiences but they share a common ground in their friendship and acceptance. That is maybe not a bad lesson either.  

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From laughter to life lessons, the ladies of QUEENS OF HEART prove that every hand you’re dealt can be a winning one when your friends deck is stacked with queens. Don’t miss Joy’s Jubilations’ staging of Lydia Bushfield’s QUEENS OF HEART, playing October 17–25 at The Local at 118 in downtown Gadsden, Alabama. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays October 17-25 at 7:30pm. There will also be a Sunday matinee at 2pm on October 19, Tickets are only $15. Seating is limited so CLICK HERE for tickets or more information. To keep up with the latest from Joy’s Jubilations, CLICK HERE to follow them on Facebook.

For more theatre coverage, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes peeks from across the Southeast, like and follow JHPEntertainment to find out who I’m chatting with for my next Rapid Fire 20Q, or follow us on Facebook, Insta and X. And remember—always bet on the queens. ♠️♥️♦️♣️

Rapid Fire 20Q with ‘Listen to Your Mother cast’; on stage at Gadsden State Community College’s Wallace Hall Saturday, May 13

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On Saturday, May 13, Gadsden, Alabama’s own Joy Tilley Perryman and a cast of locals will take to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center on the campus of Gadsden State Community College (1001 George Wallace Dr, Gadsden, AL 35903) to present Listen to Your Mother, an evening of storytelling celebrating motherhood. Back in 2010, Ann Imig debuted Listen to Your Mother. In the years since, Listen to Your Mother has become a nationwide favorite with more than 60 local theatre companies not only performing the original stories shared, but often times presenting new and unique monologues on the subject of mothers and motherhood. As Perryman and her fellow Gadsden-area storytellers fine-tuned their monologues and readied themselves for the May 13 one-night-only event, I had the opportunity to chat with members of the cast for my latest Rapid Fire 20Q.

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RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH CAST MEMBERS OF GADSDEN’s PREMIERE PRESENTATION OF LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: For those not familiar with the show, what do audiences need to know about Listen to Your Mother?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN:  That this event is so so very real and true. We have real people from all walks of life telling their true stories. It relates to and resonates with everyone. You do not have to be a Mother to enjoy this event and it is most certainly not just for women. It is a great night of entertainment for everybody!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While this is a Gadsden premiere, it not your first time being part of a production of Listen to Your Mother. What keeps you revisiting this show and how excited are you to be bringing it to your hometown?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: So, I was part of the original Nashville, TN cast and that show worked the same way this show is working. In other words, these are true stories being read by the people who wrote them. Then, when I did the show at Chaffin’s Barn Theatre, I used the actual licensed scripted show and had actors performing stories that were written by other people. It is a delicate balance finding the rhythm of the stories and the order in which they need to go. That is what brings me back, it is always changing and becoming something different. I am over the moon to bring this show to Alabama and to my hometown. I think people are going to be blown away by it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Speaking of Gadsden being your hometown, I understand you won your first acting award on the very stage where Listen to Your Mother is being performed. What was the award and what was the performance that garnered you the accolade?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: The stage at Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center located on the campus of Gadsden State Community College is like home to me. I saw my first play there and when it was over I did not want to leave. My Daddy had to pry my fingers off the armrest and carry me to the car. But to answer your question, it was Best Actress for my portrayal of Elena in Checkov‘s The Boor, for the Etowah County Schools annual skit competition.  The next year we did Moliére.  Did I mention I had some great theatre teachers in high school?

JHPENTERTAINMENT: They say you can’t go home again, but you have. What’s been the most rewarding aspect of returning to Gadsden and what’s next for your new performing arts organization, Joy’s Jubilations after you close Listen to Your Mother?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: As most people may know, I lost my beloved Dean very unexpectedly last July, so the most rewarding thing has been being here with my family. I could not have gotten through this time of life without them. Next up, is going to be a murder mystery dinner theatre event, some summer kids programming and then late summer/early fall, a recounting of the Minnie Pearl story, All the News from Grinder’s Switch.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Listen to Your Mother is a one-night-only event. Is it too early to ask if you’re planning to make it an annual event?

JOY TILLEY PERRYMAN: Never too early, and yes. You can’t get rid of me that easily! We will be back!

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s ROBIN WALLACE

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with this show prior to Joy revealing she was bringing it to Gadsden?

ROBIN WALLACE: I was not familiar with the show, but once I learned of it, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Your bio mentions that Listen to Your Mother is something you felt compelled to be part of. What drew you to the project.

ROBIN WALLACE: My story is one that I’ve not shared in the 45 years since it occurred and I hoped it would be cathartic for me, and it most definitely was.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand this performance is also special to you because you’ll be taking to the stage for this one-night-only event on the anniversary of your own mother’s birth. Whether part of what you’ll share onstage or not, what’s a piece of advice, or a saying you remember from your mother?

ROBIN WALLACE: She always stressed that my brother and I were to protect and take care of each other. We listened. We have always been each other’s protectors and still are best friends today.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A portion of all Listen to Your Mother ticket sales for this performance will benefit New Centurions, a rehab facility for women located in Gadsden. How rewarding is it to not only be part of a show that will entertain audience members, but also benefit women in need?

ROBIN WALLACE: This will be a very emotional night for me because of my story. I’m glad to share it if it helps just one woman.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Like Joy, you’re also an Alabama native, though you hail a bit further south, from Montgomery. Just between us, is there a difference between Northern Alabama folks and Montgomery Alabamians?

ROBIN WALLACE: I absolutely love this area and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else! The Montgomery I knew as a teenager is no more, so I’m extremely happy I wound up in North Alabama after my Army career.

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s TABITHA BOZEMAN

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Were you familiar with Listen to Your Mother prior to joining this production?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: I was not.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: A little social media peek as I was researching to chat with you revealed both you and your husband are educators. Is there any advice that’s helped you in your interactions with students?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: We are! I think the most important part of being an effective educator is having empathy. You can have all the knowledge of your field, but if you can’t empathize with how students learn, and the challenges they face, you will not be an effective teacher.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Further stalking of your social media revealed you’re involved in Gadsden State Community College’s Cardinal Arts Journal, so shameless plug time…What can you tell me about that?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yay! I love chatting about this! Yes, I am the editor in Chief for the Cardinal Arts Journal, which is an arts journal that Gadsden State produces, and that is open to the community, students and employees at GSCC, and to the public in general. That means we accept submissions from pretty much anyone, anywhere, and those submissions are considered for publication by our board of editors. Our editors are community writers and artists, GSCC employees and students, and writers and artists from all over the United States. There are 3 issues a year, published at the end of each semester, and we are always looking for new writing and art to publish! We accept creative writing, art, photography, music, performance, and digital art and music, as well. The Cardinal Arts Journal is an online publication. That is also the address to visit if you are interested in submitting your work. We accept submissions from all ages, as well, and there is usually a theme posted on our Facebook page and Instagram for each issue. This Spring’s issue has the theme Telling Our Stories: Fairytales, Myths, Legends, and Folklore, and will be out soon!

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I understand Listen to Your Mother will mark your return to the stage after a lengthy absence. What was the last show you were in and how are you feeling about returning to the stage?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Wow. It has been so long since I’ve been onstage for anything other than academics, I honestly am not sure what my last performance was—I believe it was either Arsenic and Old Lace or The Man Who Came to Dinner, with Theatre of Gadsden, and probably 25 years ago. I have, however, stayed somewhat involved as a theatre parent . My girls have grown up backstage because my husband, Jason teaches theatre.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: Quite often productions of Listen to Your Mother use monologues written for the show’s original mounting. For Gadsden’s premiere presentation, and given the fact that you’re a writer, yourself, I’m guessing you will be performing an original monologue?

TABITHA BOZEMAN: Yes, I have written a brief piece about how motherhood helped teach me to listen to myself.

RAPID FIRE Q&A WITH LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER’s BILLY JENKINS

JHPENTERTAINMENT: I’ll start with an obvious question. It would appear you’re the sole male storyteller in this presentation of Listen to Your Mother. How’s that going for you?

BILLY JENKINS: LOL… it’s going well.  Although I don’t share the same sex as the other performers, we all have something in common: we all have a mother. I’m used to being the lone male because I was an elementary school teacher and male elementary teachers are few and far between, so being the only male is not a big thing.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: While doing a little digging to chat with you and a few of your cast mates, I couldn’t help but be moved by a mention of your late mother in the bio Joy provided to me. Being a proud and self-professed Mama’s Boy myself…she’s 81 and going strong…I totally get it. What do you think your Mom would tell you about taking to the stage and sharing your memories of her for Listen to Your Mother?

BILLY JENKINS: First of all, my mom would be so proud of my life accomplishments. She passed when I was just 21 years old and a lot has happened since then.  As far as sharing memories of her, she’d probably tell me not to make her sound bad and to not tell any stories of her whipping me when I was a child. She’d also be excited that I’m participating in this because she always said that behind every great man is an even greater woman.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: You teach both Psychology and Philosophy at Gadsden, so a two-parter…what’s the craziest excuse you’ve heard from a student on why they missed class or an assignment deadline? AND…just because I’m curious…What’s one thing Psychology and Philosophy have in common?

BILLY JENKINS: The craziest excuse that I’ve encountered about missing class or missed assignments would have to be the dead grandmother excuse. Often times, she’s died twice during the semester and the students forgot they already used that excuse.

Psychology and philosophy share the same roots: both of them study human conditions and behaviors. Philosophy revolves around WHAT the human condition is, while Psychology revolves around the WHY the human condition is. Psychology arose from the discipline of Philosophy. The word ‘psychology’ refers to the study of souls and the word ‘philosophy’ refers to the study of wisdom.

JHPENTERTAINMENT: From your bio, I understand your first show was a 1990 production of A Chorus Line, and you readily admit you still have trouble remembering your lines. What’s a bit of dialogue from A Chorus Line that you still remember?

BILLY JENKINS: Really? Ok here goes:  “I was in the back seat with Sally Ketchum and I was feeling her boobs and feeling her boobs. She said, “Don’t you want to feel anything else?” and I suddenly thought to myself, “No, I don’t.”

JHPENTERTAINMENT: It’s sort of become my sign-off while doing these Rapid Fire Q&As to close with some version of the following…What do you hope the audience remembers about the Alabama premiere performance of Listen to Your Mother?

BILLY JENKINS: I hope the audience will listen to the different stories that are onstage and realize that although our stories are totally different, we all share the good and the bad about our mothers and those have shaped us into the people that we are today.

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This Mother’s Day weekend, the Alabama debut of Joy’s Jubilations’ presentation of Listen to Your Mother takes to the stage of Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center at Gadsden State Community College for a one-night-only performance on Saturday, May 13. The show begins at 7:30p.m. Tickets are $23. All tickets are general admission. CLICK HERE or HERE to purchase your tickets. To keep up with Joy’s Jubilations and find out what’s next, follow them on Facebook.

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