College of Fine Arts and Design

March 21, 2011

The University of Central Oklahoma's Broadway Tonight series presents the world premiere of "Flipside: The Patti Page Story" at 7:30 p.m., Sat., April 9 and at 2 p.m., Sun., April 10 in UCO's Constitution Hall, located inside the Nigh University Center.               

"Flipside" is a tribute to Oklahoma singer Patti Page, featuring 23 of her beloved songs, and was written, directed and produced by Broadway Tonight producer Greg White.                 

White parallels the life of Clara Ann Fowler (Page's birth name), the humble, soft-spoken country girl, born in Claremore, Okla., and Page, who skyrocketed to fame in the music world during the 1950s and 1960s with 111 hits, 15 gold records and four gold albums.        

"The show is a hybrid one-woman show with supporting characters," White said.  "It all came together based on my interviews with Patti and her sister Peggy Layton."                

UCO senior music theater student Haley Jane Pierce plays the role of Fowler and UCO music theater graduate Lindsie Van Winkle portrays Page.                 

Van Winkle resides in Astoria, N.Y. and has successfully carved her niche in the theater world appearing in several local and regional shows, including "Pinkalicious: The Musical!," "The Cure," "Hello, Dolly!," "Jane Eyre," "The Spitfire Grill," and many others.

The cast is rounded out with three other UCO Musical Theater students who play a multitude of characters: Justin Larman, Jenny Rottmayer, and Kassie Carroll.                 

Local favorite and Director of Education at Lyric Theatre, Stephen Hilton, plays Ben Fowler.   

White said he named the production "Flipside" in reference to the A and B sides on the old 45 RPM vinyl records.                

"The A side is the one the recording industry was betting on and the B side was considered more the throwaway," White said.                 
But, in Page's case, it was her B side, "The Tennessee Waltz," that rocketed to number one on the Billboard charts on Nov. 10, 1950, a position the song held for 30 weeks.

"Waltz" turned out to be one of the greatest records of all times with 10 million copies sold.   

Page was also known as the first recording artist to use multiple-voice techniques on songs, and she became the first pop artist whose music crossed over, landing on country hit parade charts.                 

In "Flipside," the audience will experience Page examine her roots and explore her rise to fame.

For tickets, call UCO's Mitchell Hall box office at (405) 974-3375.