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Playhouse in the Park Shines a Light on Mental Health with Upcoming Rock Musical

     Murray's Playhouse in the Dark, a spinoff of Playhouse in the Park that features contemporary shows portraying a variety of thought-provoking, mature themes, will feature the rock musical, Next to Normal, for the next week. Actors Julie Revell and Nathan Arnold visit Sounds Good to discuss the upcoming show. 

      Next to Normal, written in 2008, is an American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story is centered around a mother, Diana, with worsening bipolar disorder, and the affect mental illness has on herself and her family. Next to Normal is part of Playhouse in the Park's "Playhouse after Dark" series, which features contemporary musicals with thought-provoking, adult themes. The show is recommended for mature audiences only, and involves themes of depression, suicide, drug abuse, and ethics within modern psychiatry. 
            Natalie, the daughter of Diana, is played by Julie Revell. The father, Dan, is played by Nathan Arnold. Revell and Arnold visited Sounds Good to discuss the upcoming shows ahead of their opening night this past Thursday, June 21st. For more information on Playhouse After Dark or the Next to Normal performances, visit the Murray Playhouse in the Park website or call 270-759-1752. 

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.
Melanie Davis-McAfee graduated from Murray State University in 2018 with a BA in Music Business. She has been working for WKMS as a Music and Operations Assistant since 2017. Melanie hosts the late-night alternative show Alien Lanes, Fridays at 11 pm with co-host Tim Peyton. She also produces Rick Nance's Kitchen Sink and Datebook and writes Sounds Good stories for the web.
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