The Catch

The Catch

By Ken Weitzman

Directed by Lou Jacob

Originally produced at Denver Theater Center, Denver, CO.

January 29, 2011 through February 26, 2011



About the Premiere Production:
America’s national pastime meets America’s financial meltdown. A failed dot-commer schemes to regain his lost fortune by catching a star slugger’s record-breaking homerun ball — through willpower, planning and sheer determination. Playwright Ken Weitzman’s baseball comedy The Catch knocks the cover off our national obsession with sports, stardom, money — and positive thinking.



Artistic Statement:
Ken Weitzman crafts a brilliant comic edge in his play, with a main character driven by desperation and a fierce devotion to the American Dream. With both his dot.com business and his marriage having failed, Gary Zipnik uses his computer skills to predict where he needs to sit in Candlestick Park to catch the home run baseball that will break the world record – a catch that he believes will completely solve the many failings and problems of his life. Weitzman creates a fascinating set of comic and at times tragic characters—including a Japanese American man who works as a male escort, a fact that he keeps private from his outspoken, baseball fan mother, and the cocky African American celebrity player who hit the homerun. The play dramatically explores baseball, fame, the American obsession with sports, “big wins,” success and failure, steroids and scandal, and the complex and sometimes difficult relationships between parents and their grown sons. A deeply funny yet at times painful play, The Catch should appeal to broad audiences, including some atypical theatre audiences – sports fans and men. -- From Artistic Director Kent Thompson:


What this grant has allowed us to do: This grant is extremely important to us for the same reason as stated above. Given the economic climate and a tightening of the belts, the DCTC has been forced to reduce our rehearsal times for all show by up to a week. This grant allows us to add that time back in for the development of this world premiere play. We will have one extra week of rehearsal because of the Edgerton grant, and will be able to bring playwright Ken Weitzman to town for an additional week as well.


Director: Lou Jacob



Additional Funders:
Margot & Allan Frank and Judi & Robert Newman
Season Sponsors: Steinberg Charitable Trust, Wells Fargo, Larimer Square, SCFD, CBS4 and The Denver Post



News

Peanuts, Cracker Jacks, perfidy, and laughs: ‘The Catch’ gets a hold of one and knocks the cover off

Boulder Weekly, February 17, 2011


Ken Weitzman delivers a punchy evening of theater with ‘The Catch’

Denver Westword, February 2, 2011