BWW Reviews: Charmingly Flawed CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Lands in L.A.
While certainly a fun, buoyant little show---featuring some enjoyable music from HAIRSPRAY composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, as well as a very likable, extremely talented young actor, Stephen Anthony, at the center of its semi-autobiographical tale of successful grifting---CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: THE MUSICAL focuses much of its creative raison d'etre on its eye-catching razzle dazzle, and not enough on the fascinating story that's bubbling underneath. The non-Equity touring version of the short-lived 2011 four-time Tony nominated show, is now on a two-week layover at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles through March 24.
BWW Reviews: Fun, Pulsating CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Pantages
It used to be, in days gone by, that hit Broadway shows would be made into movies; now, it's the reverse. With a dearth of ideas for Broadway musicals, the trend lately has been to turn to the big screen and revamp a popular film for the stage, adding song and dance. Such was the case with 9 to 5 and later Legally Blonde engendering quite a bit of success. Those two had female stars at the core, so it's high time a male got some attention. Voila! Catch Me If You Can has a quirky real-life story about an anti-hero Frank Abagnale Jr. (Stephen Anthony) who in the 60s was called the Johnny Appleseed of fraud. The outstanding creative team of book writer Terrence McNally and musical wizards Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman took an old idea and created an entertainingly fresh showcase around it. The resultant Catch Me If You Can which received several Tony Award nominations in 2012 - one win for Norbert Leo Butz as Best Featured Actor playing Agent Carl Hanratty - is on tour and now playing the Pantages through March 24 with Merritt David Janes essaying Hanratty.
TV: First Look at Highlights of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Tour
Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the true story that inspired it, the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will play the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for a limited 2 week engagement March 12 - 24, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the touring production below.
BWW Reviews: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - A Guaranteed Good Time
The musicalized version of Frank Abagnale, Jr.'s jet set life, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, flies into the Hobby Center this week. With a strong opening night crowd and performance, this toe-tapping musical is sure to put a smile on your face and make you feel great. Marc Shaiman wrote the catchy score with lyrics by Scott Whitman and Marc Shaiman. Yet, audiences may better recognize this duo as the real-life composing team behind the hit songs for the fictional musical BOMBSHELL on NBC's SMASH.
Dominic Fortuna Joins Cast of GREASE National Tour
One of the stars of the recent Broadway production of GREASETM, singer/actor Dominic Fortuna, has joined the cast as 'Vince Fontaine' and 'Teen Angel.' Dominic starred on Broadway and in the first national tour (with Taylor Hicks) of GREASETM as 'Vince Fontaine.'