At UVA, the Department of Drama features a lively and talented student body that takes part in everything from theatre to dance. Composed of approximately 500 students, the Department of Drama puts on a variety of concerts and plays throughout the year. These performances allow for the greater UVA community to appreciate the hard work, creativity, and dedication that goes into the work the Department does.
There are several student organizations within the Department of Drama, such as the esteemed Virginia Players. However, first years historically had a harder time being a part of the Department performances because upperclassmen and graduate students, who had the advantage of more experience, would land all of the roles. In 1977, the First Year Players was formed to give first years a unique opportunity to participate in theatre at UVA. Since then, First Year Players is now the “biggest student-run theatre CIO on Grounds” and is an invaluable platform for first years to explore their theatre interests. First Year Players also is helpful for incoming students to meet new people and form close relationships.
Catch Me If You Can tells the story of the clever and charismatic con artist, Frank William Abagnale, Jr. Throughout the show, Abagnale leads an adventurous life of mischief through various impersonations. This narrative was actually loosely based around the life of the real Abagnale, who wrote a memoir in 1980 detailing his thrilling and daring escapades. In 2002, Abagnale’s book was turned into a Steven Spielberg movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The movie was rated 96% positive on Rotten Tomatoes and reviewers attested to the fun and engaging aspects of the plot. As for the musical, it opened on Broadway in 2011 and was nominated for four Tony Awards. In the musical adaptation, a cunning Abagnale runs away from home and impersonates first an airline pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer before eventually being caught and apprehended.
Last spring, First Year Players brought this enthralling story to life with their own production of Catch Me If You Can. The show opened last Thursday night and closed on Sunday afternoon, spanning four performances that drew in enormous crowds. The cast was entirely first years, and upperclassmen were able to stay involved through backstage roles such as directing, tech, choreography. Everyone involved made the show a truly memorable experience and kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
Among the cast was the talented Haley Kim, a first year who captivated the audience. Here’s what Haley told me about her role and thoughts about being a member of First Year Players:
What made you join First Year Players?
I joined FYP because I did a lot of musical theatre in high school and I missed being in a show! I wanted to do it in the fall semester but it conflicted with my a cappella concert, so I auditioned again in the spring.
What character did you play in Catch Me If You Can?
I played Brenda Strong.
How would you describe your character?
She has had a rough past so she is quite reserved at first, but when she meets Frank Jr. he brings her out of her shell.
How did you prepare for your role? Did you do anything specific for this one?
My role was quite vocally demanding, because of Brenda’s song, Fly Fly Away. I spent a lot of time in the practice rooms to work on my song and I also went to “office hours” to workshop individually with the vocal directors, Nicole and Aidan. For tech week and show week, I did a lot of self care to keep my voice in good condition (hydrating, steaming, taking vitamins, drinking tea).
What was your personal favorite scene to perform, and why?
My favorite song to perform was “Family Tree” because it is just happy and over the top, and genuinely had so much fun on stage. Also the choreography was super fun!
What’s a memorable moment you experienced during the production of this show?
A memorable moment was when all of the artistic staff (the upperclassmen who directed the show, taught us music, choreographed, etc.) gave individual handwritten letters to each member of the cast. I read my letters backstage before the very last show and cried.
Did you face any challenges with this performance?
Aside from the vocally demanding aspect of this role, playing Brenda was tricky because I always had to balance an internal conflict. She has a side of her that is reserved and scared, but also a desire to break free and indulge in the joys of life. Brenda also grapples a lot with her past, and conveying this internal dialogue authentically to the audience was something that I tried to work on.
How do you get into character before stepping onto the stage?
For some of my more panicked or emotional scenes, I would channel the adrenaline and nerves that just came with being on stage in front of an audience, and use that to my advantage. Otherwise, I run the scenes in my head before I go on stage to prepare for my acting choices and dialogue.
If you could play any other character in Catch Me If You Can, who would it be and why?
I would love to play one of the girls in the trio, because they had so many tight harmonies and such fun dances! Specifically Jet Set and Doctor’s Orders with all the other featured dancers. Karina and Jeremiah were amazing choreographers and really brought the show’s vision to life.
Do you have any advice for people who may be interested in being a part of First Year Players?
DO IT! If you’re a rising first year, it’s your chance to perform on that stage and find a family of the most wonderful people that you will be friends with for the rest of your time here and hopefully beyond! Also for upperclassmen, staying involved is so much fun and you get to be a source of inspiration and a role model for the first years in the cast.
Check out the First Year Players’ Instagram and website to support their upcoming shows and see more of their work!
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