About Catch Me If You Can

Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught. Nominated for four Tony awards, including Best Musical, this delightfully entertaining show was created by a Tony Award-winning "dream team," with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime) and a swinging score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray).

Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abignale, Jr., runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. When Frank's lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, though, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

Catch Me If You Can is a big and bright spectacle with high-energy dance numbers and a riveting story, making it an ideal choice for Community and Professional theatres. High School performers will enjoy portraying characters of a similar age and will relish the opportunity to sing Shaiman's and Wittman's sparkling new songs.

History

Inspiration

Catch Me If You Can, with score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and a book by Terrence McNally, is the story of notable con artist, Frank Abagnale, Jr. The musical lends much of its material from the 2002 film of the same name, which, in turn, drew from Abagnale's 1980 autobiography. Although the musical keeps many of the same plot points as the movie, it embellishes certain characters and relationships, specifically the role of Frank, Sr.

The creative team for the Seattle tryout and the Broadway production reunited the Tony-winning team from Hairspray, including director, Jack O'Brien, and choreographer, Jerry Mitchell. They came together for a series of readings and workshops from 2005 to 2008, working with such seasoned performers as Nathan Lane, Matthew Morrison, Christian Borle, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Katherine McPhee and Annaleigh Ashford.

Productions

After several workshops and readings, Catch Me If You Can first hit the stage at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle on July 28, 2009. The production starred Aaron Tveit, Norbert Leo Butz and Tom Wopat. After many positive reviews from critics, the musical moved to Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. It officially opened on April 10, 2011, and featured performances from many of the Seattle actors, including the leading three roles. The production closed four months later, on September 4th, after 170 performances.

About a year after closing on Broadway, Troika Entertainment started a national tour of the United States in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 7, 2012. The tour ran until July 28, 2013, finishing up at Costa Mesa, California. The first international production of Catch Me If You Can opened at the Blue Square theatre in South Korea in March 2012.

Trivia

Catch Me If You Can's original Broadway production was nominated for four Tony Awards in 2011, including Best Musical and Best Orchestrations. It was also nominated for six Drama Desk Awards (including Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Music and Outstanding Orchestrations), three Outer Critics Circle Awards (including Outstanding New Score) and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical.
Celebrities that have starred in Catch Me If You Can (aside from those mentioned above) include: Kerry Butler, Linda Hart, Nick Wyman and Brandon Wardell.

M & M Ross

More about Ross Music Theatre

Full M & M Ross Web Site here: http://www.m-mproductions.com/

Ross Music Theatre is a community theatre group whose goal is to involve everyone who wants to take part in the magic known as theatre. Ross Music Theatre, in association with M & M Productions, puts on a two-show season every year with an occasional third show. Our summer show is usually the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August and our winter show normally takes place in February or March. In addition, RMT also puts on a show for the holiday season around the end of November and the beginning of December.

We now offer theatre classes and youth workshops. If you are interested in joining Ross Music Theatre, point your browser to our Contact Page and you can learn how to get in touch with us. This year marks Ross Summer Music Theatre’s 57th summer, Every year we have an Alumni Night where RSMT alumni get a discounted ticket to see the show and afterwards enjoy old friends, meet with the Reinharts, cast and crew, refreshments, and watch videos. While Alumni Nights have been pretty well attended in the past, we would love to fill the place with RSMT alumni. We are working on many special events for the alumni depending on the number attending. The Alumni night performance complete with reception afterward is Sunday, July 25th. This year's profits go to the MHS Choir and the Jerauld J. Reinhart Scholarship fund.

What does a 25-year-old college graduate do when he gets out of the Air Force and obtains his first teaching job? If he loves theatre, has studied under famous conductors and directors at Indiana University's prestigious School of Music, he immediately starts to think of musical productions. In 1954, attracted to "the Region" by its proximity to Chicago theatre, Jerauld Reinhart found the peaceful, friendly community of Merrillville, Indiana, and began a long relationship with the school and community as high school choral director for 39 years and Ross Music Theatre director for 50 years. In 1964, wishing for a creative way to spend the summers, Reinhart asked the Optimist Club of Merrillville to sponsor a summer theatre for young people. The high school gym was the only stage big enough for Reinhart's spectacular spring and winter choral concerts so the theatre productions started on the Merrillvillle HS gym stage and progressed to the gym floor.

Meanwhile, Reinhart had been pushing for an artistic and well-equipped auditorium in which to present school and community events. Backed by the school and community, he sought out the advice of his mentors at Indiana University and the high school auditorium--now the Reinhart Auditorium--opened in 1972 with Kiss Me, Kate. Productions got larger, casts and choruses grew, orchestras grew, as well as Reinhart's eight children, who trouped along with every summer. The youngest appeared on stage at age 3.
Jerry was known for being an incredible musician and showman but he was also an amazing scenic designer, artist, and carpenter. Many of his sets, like Beauty and the Beast, and Hello Dolly, garnered applause when

the curtain opened and revealed his enormous and elaborate set.
Jerry's last full set design was Phantom of the Opera at Merrillville High School in 2011. He was also the principal scenic artist.
Jerry passed away on February 13th, 2014 and his wife Margilee, who was instrumental in making sure every detail was tended to so the productions were professional from top to bottom, passed away March 2021, just two weeks before her 92nd birthday. The week before she passed, she asked her son Michael (M&M Productions and Ross Music Theatre director), “What are we doing this summer?" Because they were always teaching, mentoring, and instructing, they live on in many productions through all of those who learned from them and pass on their expertise and knowledge to the next generations. Catch Me If You Can marks the first musical in 57 years where one of them was not present for the production.