John Atkins (left) and Will Ragland as Buddy Holly return for our 2007 production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story |
Buddy kits for the media
 Download press kit in PDF format.
Download press kit in Word format
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 Hear Will Ragland as Buddy Holly sing That'll be the Day, (1.3 Mb mp3) |
"... "Buddy" treats audience members to hit after hit from the legend ... the band was superb ...a nearly seamless production ... high-energy production provides foot-tapping fun ...
The Greenville News, July 20, 2007 ... Read entire review
"... absolutely first rate ... Ragland's live vocals are unbelievably strong ...
The Beat, August 1, 2007 ... Read entire review
"... it becomes almost impossible to tell a difference between the real Holly and Ragland, and that's the highest compliment I can pay him ...
The Beat, August 1, 2007 ... Read entire CD review
Buddy's back July 19 - August 18
On July 28, 2005, Centre Stage opened its first production of
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Within days, the show began selling out, becoming the biggest blockbuster in the Theatre's 25-year history to that time.
This year, by overwhelming popular demand, Buddy will return to Centre Stage, again featuring
Will Ragland, one of the Upstate's most recognizable and respected entertainers, as Buddy Holly. The production, exclusively sponsored by IMI, will open July 19, 2007 and run for 24 performances through August 18, 2007. We anticipate a total attendance of approximately 6,000 from across the region.
Buddy will be directed by
Betsy Bisson, an Equity actress and mainstage director employed by Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theater of North Carolina. Her co-director is
Gene Krcelic, a principal of OMG Studio where Edwin McCain recorded his most recent album. OMG will soon release a CD featuring Will Ragland and the music of Buddy Holly, produced by Grammy Award-winner
Noel Golden.
Will Ragland as Buddy Holly
Hear Will Ragland as Buddy Holly sing That'll be the Day, (1.3 Mb mp3) |
For the media
Download press kit as PDF.
Download press kit as Word.
 Will Ragland returns to Centre Stage to reprise a role for which he received the "Best Actor in a Local Production" award in The Beat's 2005 Best of the Beat. Will is a Greenville native and a veteran of over 30 productions in North and South Carolina. He was last seen at Centre Stage as many strange characters in The Mystery of Irma Vep. Other favorite roles in area theatres include Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden, Hook in Peter Pan and Fagin in Oliver! at the South Carolina Children's Theatre and Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf in Into the Woods and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Greenville Little Theatre. Will is a graduate of Davidson College and teaches art and drama at Woodmont High School in Piedmont. Will dedicates his performance to the enduring legacy of Buddy Holly's life and music. Rave on!
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Tickets are on sale now. (Please note that student rush prices will not apply to this production and there will be no group discounts.)
 Here's what the critics said the last time Will Ragland appeared in Greenville as Buddy Holly ...
"... a solid triumph with Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story that had audiences dancing in the aisles and screaming for more. This shining example of what theatre can be in the life of a community transcends the notion that the performing arts are a mere diversion. During the run of this play - and for weeks afterwards - it seemed like everywhere we went, people wanted to talk about Buddy Holly. Not bad for a guy who died 46 years ago. Fueling the mania was Will Ragland in the performance of a lifetime as the bespectacled rocker from Lubbock, Texas who really did change the world of music. We thought this combination of play and actor would rack up a bunch of votes, but it was a landslide for Will Ragland and Centre Stage's Buddy Holly.
Rave on!"
The Beat, Best of the Beat, November 8, 2005
| Actor |
Role |
| Buddy Holly |
Will Ragland |
| Joe Mauldin |
Joshua Wilson |
| Jerry Allison |
Kip Brock |
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4th Cricket
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John Atkins |
| Hipockets Duncan |
Brian Coker |
| Norman Petty |
Louie Sagedy |
| Big Bopper |
Joe Wehunt |
| Ritchie Valens |
Jose Molina |
| Apollo Performer |
"Pie" Houston |
| Apollo Performer |
Maurice Lomax |
| Decca Producer |
Ronald Dennis |
| KDAV Engineer |
Jonathan Witthuhn |
| Bass Guitar |
John Brookshire |
| Vi Petty |
Paula Doolittle |
| Maria Elena |
Maria Katsadouros |
| Apollo Performer |
Anreale Pickens |
| Shirley |
Bentley DeGarmo |
| Mrs. Santiago |
JeanE Bartlett |
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Show times and performance dates
Show times for all days except Sundays is 8:00 p.m. Show time on Sundays is 3:00 p.m. Patrons are asked to arrive at the theater no later than 15 minutes before show time if tickets have been reserved in advance. Walk-up customers should allow additional time to purchase tickets at the box office window. Patrons arriving after the performance has begun will be seated at intermission.
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| Show times: Evenings at 8 p.m.; Sunday Matinees at 3 p.m. |
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| Show times: Evenings at 8 p.m.; Sunday Matinees at 3 p.m. |
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