Moonlight Stage Closes 34th Season With CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Beginning Tonight

Moonlight Stage Productions' 34th summer season comes to a triumphant close with the Southern California Regional Premiere of the Tony Award-nominated musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, based on the hit film of the same name that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Performances are tonight, September 10 to 27.

Single tickets are priced $15 to $52 and include price levels for student rush, military, senior, and family discounts. To purchase tickets or for more information, call (760) 724-2110 or visit moonlightstage.com.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN's libretto is by Terrence McNally with a theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. After a tryout in Seattle in 2009, it opened at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in April 2011. The production received four Tony Awards nominations, including one for Best Musical, winning Best Actor in a Musical for Norbert Leo Butz as FBI Agent Carl Hanratty.

The musical follows the story of con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. A majority of the plot is borrowed from the 2002 film of the same name, which in turn was based on Abagnale's 1980 autobiography. Before his 19th birthday, Frank Abagnale Jr. successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. His primary crime was check fraud; he became so skillful that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other check forgers. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.

Starring in the lead role of Frank Abagnale, Jr., is JACOB HAREN, thrilled to be returning home to Moonlight, where, at age eight, he began his professional performing career. While audiences may best remember him as Little Boy in Moonlight's award-winning Ragtime, his other credits on the hill include Seussical, 42nd Street, and Crazy For You, as well as On Golden Pond (Billy) and Little Women (Laurie) for the winter season at the AVO Playhouse. He has also appeared in numerous shows at Musical Theatre West, 3-D Theatricals, the Disneyland Resort, and, most recently, in the Las Vegas company of Rock of Ages.

As FBI agent Carl Hanratty, JOSH ADAMSON makes his Moonlight debut. Originally from Australia, Josh moved to New York City and appeared in such shows as Hair, Blood and Fire, and the Broadway workshop of Taboo, working with Rosie O'Donnell and Boy George. He then moved to Los Angeles where he has had leading and supporting roles in the feature films The Wedding Video, Unidentified, Look @ Me, Desert of Blood, Portal, and Painting in the Rain. He also starred in the TV movie First Landing, in which he portrayed the historic role of Captain John Smith. Other television credits include Make It or Break It and Big Time Rush. On stage he has taken leading roles in Lovelace by the Go-Gos, Aida, Annie, the U.S. national tour of The Clean Up Woman starring Jackée Harry and Telma Hopkins, and the London theatre production of Peter Pan, starring as Hook. Josh recently starred as Nick Arnstein in the West Coast revival of Funny Girl, as well as starring along side the Tony Award-winning Ben Vereen in the Lythgoes' production of Aladdin at the Pasadena Playhouse. Josh has just returned from Australia after starring alongside Australian star Magda Szubanski in Snow White at the Sydney State Theatre.

HEATHER LUNDSTEDT is thrilled to be making her Moonlight debut with Catch Me If You Can in the role of Brenda Strong. Heather was most recently seen as Marian Paroo in The Music Man at Glendale Centre Theatre. In New York she has been seen in The Pirates of Finance and Walden. Her regional credits include Sweeney Todd at Musical Theatre West; The Scarlet Pimpernel at GCT; Seussical the Musical; Oklahoma!; Man of La Mancha; and Phantom of the Opera as Christine. Heather has performed all over the world with Disney Cruise Line and Incognito Artists.

ROBERT NEARY (Frank Abagnale, Sr.) has performed on Broadway in Smokey Joe's Cafe and in the national tour of Aida as Zoser. He can be seen in more than 75 national commercials, movies, and television roles including as a lead guest star on Revolution, Sons of Anarchy, Weeds, The Closer, Medium, Numb3rs, Rizzoli & Isles, Harry's Law, Law & Order: LA, CSI: NY, Flash Forward, and for two years as Frank Marino on General Hospital. Robert is the creator, producer, and writer of the upcoming Drama series Destiny 7. He is an award-winning writer/director of the short film Lemonade Stand. He has also recorded three contemporary gospel albums.

TRACY LORE (Paula Abagnale) has toured nationally and performed in New York in Peter Pan staring Cathy Rigby (Mrs. Darling). Her regional credits include Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein here at Moonlight, Reno in Anything Goes, Hairspray (Velma), Crazy for You (Irene), Guys & Dolls (Adelaide), Me & My Girl (Jacqueline), Hairspray (Velma -- Ovation nomination), The Wedding Singer (Angie), The Producers (Hold Me Touch Me), All Shook Up (Sandra -- Ovation nomination), The Full Monty (Vicki), Me & My Girl (Jacqueline), The Will Rogers Follies (Betty), The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy), Once Upon A Mattress (Queen Aggravain -- Ovation nomination), 42nd Street (Dorothy Brock), Carousel (Mrs. Mullin), the American premiere of Betty Blue Eyes (Joyce), A Little Night Music (Mrs. Segstrom), Cinderella (Queen), Boeing, Boeing (Berthe -- Desert Theatre League Award), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Meers), Proposals (Annie), and Noises Off (Dotty).

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is directed by LARRY RABEN, in his Moonlight directing debut. Under Steve Glaudini's artistic directorship of Musical Theatre West he directed Sunset Boulevard, Hairspray, and The Wedding Singer. He directed the world premiere of Tony winner Joe DiPietro's Falling For Eve Off-Broadway at The York Theatre. He won the LA Ovation Award for Best Direction for Singin' in the Rain (Cabrillo Music Theatre). Locally he has directed Always Patsy Cline, Hollywood's Heyday (which he also co-authored), and Forever Plaid at Welk Resort Theatre. Others include Tru, Greater Tuna and A Tuna Christmas (Coyote StageWorks -- all Desert Star Awards for Best Direction), Plaid Tidings (Walnut Street Theatre), authored and directed Rodger & Hart & Hammerstein for Reprise!, Nuttin' But Hutton (NoHo Arts), Love Makes The World Go Round (Phoenix Theatre), Fanny (MTG), Never Gonna Dance, The Thing About Men, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Legs Diamond, and Sugar (MTW), Bark! (Inland Empire Award Best Direction), The Producers (Gateway Playhouse), and Sweet Charity in Buenos Aires (Best Director, Ace nominee). Larry is also a recently published children's book author of "Ibby Makes A Wish," which is available on Amazon.com.

Musical director ELAN McMAHAN has been part of Moonlight's creative team since 1982. This production of My Fair Lady marks her 46th as music director for Moonlight Stage Productions. Elan also works at The Old Globe in San Diego, her most recent project: How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Her work at Moonlight and the Globe has received critical acclaim, including last year's Outstanding Musical Direction Award from the San Diego Theatre Critics' Circle for a body of 2012 work which included Moonlight's Fiddler on the Roof and Sweeney Todd and The Globe's As You Like It.

KARL WARDEN is thrilled to choreograph this show after appearing in the world premiere. He has choreographed acclaimed productions of Pippin, Footloose, Hello, Dolly!, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Once Upon A Mattress, Psycho Beach Party, The Todd & Molly Show: In Everyone's Pants There's A Dance, and the World Premieres of BARK! and The Green Room. For television and film he has choreographed Someplace Better Than Here and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's "Goin' Back To Philly." His industrial shows include MAC Cosmetics (Red She Said and Hey Sailor!, performed in 150 cities worldwide), Harvey Nichols' Hong Kong Grand Opening, HP Computers, Nefful at the Kodak Theatre, and Broadway Unplugged at The Ford Amphitheater. He has proudly served as associate Choreographer to Tony Award winner Scott Wise and Emmy nominee Patti Colombo.

Rounding out the creative team are lighting designer JEAN-YVES TESSIER and sound designer CHRIS LUESSMANN. Costume coordination and execution are by ROSLYN LEHMAN, RENETTA LLOYD, and CARLOTTA MALONE.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
September 10-27
Wednesday through Sunday nights.
* * Special earlier curtain time: 7:30 pm. * *
Gates open for picnicking and dining at 6:00 pm at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista.
Ticket price range: $15-$52
Web: moonlightstage.com
Phone: (760) 724-2110

TICKET DEALS/SPECIAL NIGHTS
Family Nights at the Moonlight are Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. On these nights, lawn tickets for kids 15 and under are just $10 when accompanied by two adults. New this year is the addition of Family Night for Fridays, with kids' tickets just $15. Family Night tickets are available on night of show at the Amphitheatre box office. The Moonlight offers rush tickets for college students on the lawn beginning 30 minutes prior to every performance. Tickets are $15 per person with a valid student identification card. Single ticket discounts for seniors and military are available.

PICNICKING AT THE MOONLIGHT
One of the most unique theatre-going experiences found anywhere is Moonlight's lawn seating, allowing patrons to bring their own picnic suppers into the theatre and picnicking before the show. Lawn ticket holders receive a chair as part of their ticket upon entry to the theatre.

ARTISAN CAFE AT THE MOONLIGHT
The Moonlight's restaurant, the Artisan Cafe, is operated by Chef David Krohn. The Café offers pre-show dining outdoors on the Moonlight Patio where glimpses of the sunset can be seen before patrons take their seats for the show. The Café also offers delicious intermission snacks to all theatregoers including beverages. To view the Café's menu, visit moonlightstage.com. For information and reservations, call (760) 828-0596.

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