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Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!

By: Aug. 05, 2014
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On Saturday night July 26, songwriters / co-creators Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman paid a visit to Wichita to see Music Theatre Wichita's all-new production of "Catch Me If You Can," and had many compliments for director / producer Wayne Bryan, choreographer Linda Goodrich, and all the cast members, including Thom Sesma ("The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Miss Saigon," "Sweeney Todd") as FBI agent Carl Hanratty, and Skyler Adams (Pippin understudy in the upcoming national tour of "Pippin") as Frank Jr. Special praise also went to Broadway veterans David Hess and Paula Leggett Chase as Frank's parents, and to Carolyn Anne Miller as love interest Brenda.

Scroll down for photos of Shaiman and Wittman backstage, plus images from the production!

With book by Terrence McNalley and a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, "Catch Me If You Can" is based on the autobiography of teenaged con man Frank Abagnale Jr., and on the DreamWorks motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg. Before reaching the age of 21, Abagnale had forged checks worth millions of dollars, but eluded the FBI by assuming different personas, including a lawyer, an emergency room doctor, and a Pan Am pilot.

Director Wayne Bryan and choreographer Linda Goodrich worked closely with set designer Robert A. Kovach and costume designer Dixon Reynolds to evoke the era of 1960s TV variety shows, and the authors' applauded the clarity of the storytelling, and the honest work of the large cast.

The production opened Wednesday July 23 for a 7-performance run, concluding July 27. More information, including a video Sneak Peek, can be found at www.mtwichita.org.

Photo Credit: Jerry Fritchman

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams) is 'Live in Living Color,' closely watched by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma)

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams) surrounds himself with pretty dancers, 1960s TV style

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Paula Abanagle (Paula Leggett Chase) watches 'Hullabaloo' with her son Frank Jr. (Skyler Adams) and his father, Frank Sr. (David Hess).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma) gives advice to his men (Michael Graceffa, Robert Ariza, and Kevin Clay).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams) discovers that the life of an airline pilot isn't all work.

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams) learns to fly the very friendly skies.

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma) shares target practice with his men (Kevin Clay, Robert Ariza).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma, center) warns his team that in life you 'Don't Break the Rules.'

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Jr. (Skyler Adams), learns to make 'Butter Outta Cream' with the help of several 'Pinstripe' girls.

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma) may not realize how close he is to his adversary Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Paula Abagnale (Paula Leggett Chase) discusses her son with FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma)

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Young nurse Brenda Strong (Carolyn Anne Miller) brings a sweet romance into the life of con man Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
A new sort of 'picket fence' life is offered as a possibility when the Strong Family (Timothy W. Robu as Roger, Karen L. Robu as Carol, and Carolyn Anne Miller as Brenda) welcome Frank Abagnale Jr. (Skyler Adams) into 'Our Family Tree'.

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Brenda (Carolyn Anne Miller) urges boyfriend Frank Jr. to 'Fly Fly Away.'

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Frank Abanale Jr. (Skyler Adams) forms an unlikely duo with FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Thom Sesma).

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (center) congratulate the cast and crew of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Photo Flash: Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; Plus Production Shots!  Image
Songwriters visit Music Theatre Wichita's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Left to right, David Hess (Frank Sr.), Thom Sesma (Carl Hanratty), Marc Shaiman (composer, co-lyricist), Scott Wittman (co-lyricist), Paula Leggett Chase (Paula Abagnale), Wayne Bryan (director, and theatre's producing artistic director);l in front, Skyler Adams (Frank Jr.) and Carolyn Anne Miller (Brenda Strong).



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