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[Audio] Playhouse in the Park Presents "Catch Me if You Can" Starting Thursday Night

WKMS

Playhouse in the Park’s production of "Catch Me If You Can" opens Thursday night. The musical adaptation of the critically-acclaimed biographical crime drama stars Jake Hunter as Frank Abagnale, a teenager that pulls off millions of dollars in successful cons as he flees from the FBI across the country. Hunter and play director Lisa Cope spoke with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good to give some insight into the performance.

Cope says Playhouse in the Park is one of the first amateur theatres to put on this production; the "Catch Me if You Can" musical adaptation is only a few years old, and the rights were released just last year.

She says the first thing audiences will pick up on is the show’s fast pace, staying true to its name.

“It’s written to feel like he’s on the run. You get that sense of motion and tension (…) I was amazed how well it transferred to the stage,” Cope said.

Cope describes the set as a series of platforms connected to one big platform, with characters and scenes quickly changing.

“He moves constantly. His character never stops and is never still. So the platforms let us do that,” Cope said.

As such, Hunter says the lead role of Frank Abagnale is demanding.

“You have to put yourself in this one scene and imagine how he is in this but then instantly transfer to how he feels in the next scene,” Hunter said. “And then the songs along with that - you have to sing and dance and breathe at the same time.”

Hunter says he had seen bits and pieces of the film before auditioning, and quickly finished the whole thing during production to really get into character.

Playhouse in the Park’s production of "Catch Me if You Can" premieres October 15 at 7 P.M. It’ll continue Friday and Saturday at the same time, followed by a Sunday matinee at 2:30 P.M. And it’ll follow the same schedule the following week. Cope says Thursday tickets will be half priced.

For more information or to buy a ticket, contact Playhouse in the Park at (270) 759-1752 or visit Playhouse in the Park's website.

Tracy started working for WKMS in 1994 while attending Murray State University. After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees from MSU he was hired as Operations/Web/Sports Director in 2000. Tracy hosted All Things Considered from 2004-2012 and has served as host/producer of several music shows including Cafe Jazz, and Jazz Horizons. In 2001, Tracy revived Beyond The Edge, a legacy alternative music program that had been on hiatus for several years. Tracy was named Program Director in 2011 and created the midday music and conversation program Sounds Good in 2012 which he hosts Monday-Thursday. Tracy lives in Murray with his wife, son and daughter.
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