Musical Theater West (MTW) brings the incredible true story, turned hit film, turned Broadway Tony Award-winning musical Catch Me If You Can to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center March 29 through April 14. Created by the “dream team” of song writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Smash, Mary Poppins Returns) and librettist Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), Catch Me If You Can delivers a the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught.
Teenager Frank Abagnale, 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, he successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer – living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. But when his lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, the chase is on to make Frank pay for his crimes. The production was nominated for four Tony Awards with Norbert Leo Butz winning for Best Actor.
Catch Me if You Can features Broadway talent and regional favorites. Jacob Haren (Frank Abagnale Jr.) comes direct from Broadway’s The Book of Mormon where he is appearing as Elder White, a role he will be returning to after his run with MTW. He reprises the role of Abagnale Jr., after earning critical acclaim in the Moonlight Stage production. His additional credits include Rock of Ages (Las Vegas), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse, world premiere), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (The Old Globe).
Fans of Bad Santa 2 will recognize Jeff Skowron (Agent Carl Hanratty) for his co-starring role as Dorfman opposite Billy Bob Thornton. Broadway credits include?Enron, How the Grinch Stole
Christmas, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, High Society and The Boy From Oz. At MTW, Skowron was last seen as Jigger in?Carousel?and Edward Bloom in?Big Fish.?Most recently, he earned critical acclaim for his role as the entire D’Ysquith family in 3D Theatrical’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Among his numerous awards and nominations include his work in 3D Theatricals?Parade (Ovation Award) and The Producers?(Ovation nomination); McCoy Rigby’s South Pacific (Ovation Award) and Pride and Prejudice (Ovation Nomination) and?Les Misérables (Ovation Nomination); and The?Wallis Annenberg’s Into the Woods (LA Drama Critics Circle Nomination).
Katie Saper makes her MTW debut. A seasoned actress, she earned a San Diego Critic’s nomination for her standout performance as Gloria Thorpe in Damn Yankees (SDMT). Additional credits include productions of Looking For Christmas (The Old Globe), Crystal-Kingdom City (La Jolla Playhouse), The Houdini Box (La Jolla Playhouse workshops), Sunset Boulevard and Titanic (Moonlight Stage Productions), and A Little Night Music (Cygnet Theatre).
The show is under the direction of Larry Raben (MTW’s Sunset Boulevard and Nice Work if You Can Get It; Off-Broadway’s Falling for Eve), with choreography by Peggy Hickey (Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Anastasia and MTW’s Elf as director and choreographer); and music direction by Dennis Castellano (MTW’s White Chirstmas, Bright Star and Carousel). Rounding out the cast is Rebecca Spencer (Carol Strong), Doug Carfrae (Roger Strong), Michael Corbett (Frank Abagnale, Sr), and Sandy Bainum (Paula Abagnale). The ensemble features Richard Bulda, Jonathan Sangster, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, Annie Hinskton, Bailey Blaise, Claudia Baffo, Isabella Olivas, Jenna Lea Rosen, Jennifer Knox, Katie Barna, Lauren Decierdo, Calvin Brady, Evin Johnson, Graham Keene, Louis Williams Jr. and Simoné Sassudelli.
This production is made possible thanks to the support of Season Sponsors: Ackerman Family/Evalyn M Bauer Foundation, Kathy Baker Campbell and KC Wilson, Ken & Dottie Reiner, Don & Marlene Temple and The Port of Long Beach; Associate Producers: Dr. David R. Federick and Jasmine P. Cálzada, The Schulzman-Neri Foundation and John & Kathryn Wavell; with Youth Performance Underwriters: Don Black & Judy McNulty Black, Pat De Rouen, and Dr. Ron & Sylvia Hartman. Paul Garman serves as Executive Producer/Director of Musical Theatre West.