For country music fans, the entertainment continues at the Drayton Festival Theatre this fall with Rhinestone Cowgirl, a toe-tappin’ salute to Dolly Parton. This tribute concert plays two shows only: Nov. 3 at 2pm and 8pm.
Bursting with Parton’s greatest hits from over four decades, Rhinestone Cowgirl stars Leisa Way in her tribute to Dolly Parton, backed by The Wayward Wind band featuring Bruce Ley, Kim Ratcliffe, Dave Wilson, Randall Kempf and Aaron Solomon. In an authentic performance, Way loses herself in the music of legendary singer Dolly Parton, bringing each song to life with an energy that mirrors the star’s warmth and wit.
“Every bit of dialogue I speak in the show came out of Dolly’s mouth at some point. She’s so smart and funny; the queen of one-liners,” says Way.
A native of Sudbury, Way started singing at the age of nine. Her first professional role came in 1981 when she played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Anne in Anne of Green Gables, a role Way played for six years at the Charlottetown Festival, including six tours to Japan, and Canadian and U.S.A. tours with over 1,000 performances. She has performed the Parton tribute across Canada at over 50 theatres with overwhelming success.
“Leisa Way exudes charisma in her portrayal of Dolly Parton,” says Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas. “Audiences will be thoroughly entertained during this fun-filled tribute to one of the greatest female country music artists of all time.”
Rhinestone Cowgirl features such hit songs as Jolene, Coat of Many Colours, Here You Come Again, 9 To 5, and of course I Will Always Love You, a song Parton wrote in 1974, which immediately became a number one hit on the country charts. The song achieved unprecedented international success when Whitney Houston recorded it for the soundtrack to the movie The Bodyguard.
A winner of five Grammy Awards and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Parton penned thousands of songs that have been recorded by Hank Williams Jr., Kenny Rogers, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain and others. Parton made her film debut in 1980 alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in 9 To 5, for which she wrote the iconic title song.
Tickets for Rhinestone Cowgirl are $35 including HST. Order tickets by calling the Box Office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-855-372-9866. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com.
