Playhouse in the Park: A Long-Held Tradition

By Callie Smith

One of the oldest traditions in the community, Playhouse in the Park boasts a unique theatre experience. Formally founded as The Murray-Calloway County Community Theatre in 1977, the board had no idea it would take them three more years to find a permanent home. In 1979, the theatre was moved to the Murray-Calloway County Park and in 1980, they opened with “Wizard of Oz” in what was now dubbed the Playhouse in the Park.  Oh, and that unique experience I mentioned in the beginning? The Playhouse is built into an old, unused train depot making it a completely intimate experience.

The current Executive Director, Lisa Cope, gave me a tour of the theatre and the offices within the Playhouse.  Walking into the theatre was a much different experience than I imagined it would be. Unlike a traditional theatre, there is no separation from the stage and the audience. The theatre holds 140 seats, which is much different from the theatre I grew up in that held 450 plus overflow seating. Without even hearing from Lisa how special the theatre was, I could feel it. Nearly 45 years of love and history was in this tiny room and I could see it written on Lisa’s face. The story of the Playhouse was one I had to hear.

Lisa first connected with the Playhouse in 2003 while directing “Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.” in Mayfield.  Several students from Calloway County were involved with her show and during the rehearsal period, they were rocked with shocking news. The Executive Director of Playhouse in the Park, Michael Dunnagan, had passed away. Following his passing, the board searched for an interim director and pressed on.  They asked Lisa if she would be interested in directing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and of course, she said yes.

“To this day it’s my favorite experience that I have had in theatre,” she said. “It was just a very sweet time. A hard time in some ways, because the kids were grieving, but it was a sweet time of healing and coming together and doing good work that would make him [Michael] proud.”

Lisa stayed in touch with the board and when the job opened in 2009, she was ready to take over. A former paralegal, she spent her free time directing and producing productions close to home. She describes it as a cool way that life connects with itself.

There were a few things I wondered before I met Lisa that day. I wanted to know how seasons were picked and how long they rehearsed a show before opening, but we ended up having a much deeper conversation. I’ve spent around 17 years of my life in theatre—mostly onstage but sometimes backstage—so I can understand the basics of how an organization works. Lisa and I sat down to chat in the tiniest multipurpose room I had ever seen. Seriously, this was a dressing room, storage room and meeting space packed full of costumes and props and that got me thinking…where is everything housed?

And it turns out…it’s a long story.  In the summer of 2014, Murray was devastated by a fire downtown that destroyed several businesses, including the donated space for Playhouse in the Park’s costumes, props and set pieces. Forty years of history was up in smoke. After moving from temporary space to temporary space, they landed in a building on Arcadia Street and the opportunity came available to purchase the building…so they did.

“It was just one of those things. It kind of fell into our lap and it was terrifying and exciting all at the same time,” Lisa said. “It’s a building that checks off all the boxes for us. There’s classroom space, there’s performance space, the warehouse already has our stuff in it. It’s ready to walk into.”

Playhouse in the Park has launched a capital campaign to fund their new building, Playhouse Arcadia Annex. Donations will fund the building, as well as programs, supplies, and more. They are also looking for donations of furniture, fans, cleaning supplies, paper towels, etc.

If you know me, you know I am a firm believer in arts programs, from funding them to participating in them, the arts enrich you and enlighten you to a whole new worldview. There truly is room for everyone. Evidently, Lisa feels the same way too.

“I tell kids, ‘Most of us are not going to grow up to be actors and actresses, right? But what you learn here, you’re going to use the rest of your life, no matter what you do.’,” she said. “I have so many kids come back to me saying that college was easier, a class was easier, someone learns how to step out of their comfort zone, someone learns how to be inclusive. Everybody belongs here.” 

It’s so clear to see that this group is a family that truly cares about everyone who walks through their doors. They learn you and they open you up in the best way possible. They want you to succeed and learn something new about yourself and the community around you. They truly are a piece of Murray that connects the community in a unique way. I can’t wait to visit again.

Playhouse in the Park has one shows left in their 2019 season: “A Christmas Story” runs December 6-15 and has just introduced their 2020 season:  “Matilda” in February, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” in March, “9 to 5” in April, “The Toxic Avenger” in June, “Streakin’ Thru the 70s” and Playhouse Summer Camp in July, “The Miracle Worker” in August, The Penguin Project in September, “The Murder Room” in October, and “Elf: The Musical” in December.  For tickets, contact the Box Office at (270)-759-1752. For more information on Playhouse in the Park, visit playhousemurray.org.