As the first weekend of March quickly approaches, the directors, cast, stage crew, and pit are putting final touches on this year’s spring musical Catch Me If You Can. Opening night will be on March 3rd with shows following on the 4th, 5th, 10th and 11th. 

Students have spent hours rehearsing the show, practicing the music, building the set, and creating costumes.

“Musical is a tremendous undertaking. I am most impressed with the student leadership in both booth and backstage. Stage Crew is the brain of the body that is a production. Without brain activity, a body cannot function. Though many of the accolades — and deservedly so — go to our amazing performers — without sound, lights, and spectacle — the musical could not run,” assistant director Mrs. Anne Loudon said.

Director Mrs. Jennifer Birch returns to direct this year’s musical with the help of Mrs. Loudon. Ms. Emily Yuretich also returns as vocal director, perfecting the show’s musical numbers. Mr. Geoffrey McKain returns as the pit director. A new choreographer, Ms. Casey Bruchwalski, takes on the hard choreography of the show with determination.

“The choreography is used as a visual device to support the story. It’s used to spice up the events in Frank’s story and bring the show to life,” Ms. Bruchwalski said. 

Adults are not responsible for all of the success of the production. Student choreographer Hannah Stelitano, student director Kylie Clark, stage managers Anna Love and Josh Fedorek and many more student leaders are just as involved in making the show a success. 

“I truly feel empowered as a leader to make decisions and test my ideas out. The directors give me a lot of freedom with my ideas and stand behind my thoughts and directions, making me feel like a true leader,” Clark said. 

Chasing fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abagnale, Jr., played by junior Max Milligan, runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. His parents, Frank Abagnale Sr., played by junior Josh Clark, and Paula Abagnale, played by senior Rachel Scierka, struggle with their marriage as their son leaves them. 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 played by senior Lauren Lorenz. When Frank’s lies catch the attention of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by senior Alex Eastly, Carl chases Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes.

“I was a little anxious about the fact that ‘Catch Me If You Can’ might not necessarily have the name recognition of some Golden Age shows, but the story embedded in this show is so important, so impactful, so emotional. I knew it was a risk worth taking to usher our cast, crew, and pit through the challenges and bring this incredible (true!) story to the Shaler stage,” Mrs. Birch said.

Performance will be March 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 7:00 p.m. The March 5 will start at 2:00 p.m.

All seats are reserved. Purchase your tickets online today: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/70546