Cat Patterson plays second fiddle to no one – she has performed in musicals, straight plays, and Shakespearean dramas at theatres across the country. This season, Cat is making her FST Cabaret debut in Outlaws and Angels, a celebration of outlaw country music and its connection to the country music of today.

We sat down with Cat to discuss the collaborative nature of creating an FST Cabaret, how close the cast is, and the origin of her violin.

Due to popular demand, Outlaws and Angels has been extended through April 12 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. For tickets and more information, click here.

Do you have personal connection to the music in Outlaws and Angels? If so, which songs speak to you?

My grandfather loved Patsy Cline! Every time I hear “Crazy,” I am reminded of the times that I went to visit him and could hear her voice echoing down the hallway. It is so much more than a song for me – it’s a memory. It is so rewarding help the audience look back on specific times in their lives and know that we are the ones making it happen.

Has there been a special moment (unscripted surprise or moment with the audience) while you’ve been here?

One of the things that makes this show so special is the connections I have with the other performers onstage. I will never forget the night that something unusual happened and all of us looked at each other and adjusted with no verbal communication. Having a group of musicians so in sync is something that takes time and work. As a group we were able to naturally develop these connections so quickly, and I will never forget that moment.

You absolutely steal the show when you shred the fiddle during “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” What is that moment like for you every night?

Theatre is about telling stories and connection. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” is a perfect example of how we as artists are able to come together and take people on a journey. I can see the audience listening to the story and becoming enraptured with both Johnny and the Devil. By the final fiddle section of the song, I can feel the audience fighting right alongside me for Johnny to win. That moment of unity is so humbling and rewarding.

What is something that FST audiences would be surprised to know about you?

Fun Fact: my violin’s name is Julius. It was named after the luthier who built him; Julius Herberlein. Herberlein was a violin maker from Germany who worked with the Oliver Ditson company, which was based out of the USA. It was made in the early 1900’s and has been in my family for years.

Due to popular demand, Outlaws and Angels has been extended through April 12 in FST’s Goldstein Cabaret. For tickets and more information, click here.