STERLING — Sterling College Theatre’s spring musical has a very familiar title but not as a musical. It was originally a book followed by a popular movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The Broadway musical followed. All three share the same title, “Catch Me If You Can,” and tell the incredible true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. a teenager turned con artist.
The musical “Catch Me If You Can” will be presented in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday April 24.
In the musical, Frank narrates his own life story, a tale of a boy living off his intuition and luck and trying to find home. After his parent’s divorce, 16-year-old Frank runs away from home, planning to return with enough money to reopen his father’s business.
Over the next few years, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer. He travels the world forging checks, all the while evading the hard-boiled detective Carl Hanratty. Hanratty insists he will one day catch Frank because, he says, “Sooner of later, they all make a mistake.” Frank’s weak spot is an innocent southern girl named Brenda. Frank wants to settle down but his past, and Hanratty, are hot on his heels.
The musical uses the style of a 1970s television variety show to tell Frank’s story – complete with singers, dancers and swinging songs by the songwriting team behind “Hairspray” – Scott Shaiman and Scott Whitman. Playwright Terrance McNally wrote the script.
Frank Jr. will be played by Dylan Werth of Hays. His parents, Frank Sr. and Paula, will be played by Nilo Reynoso of Carson, Calif., and Emma Kwasiborski of Spring Hill. William Dutton of Sterling will play Detective Carl Hanratty, and his agents Cod, Branton, and Dollar will be played by Josh Morris of Hutchinson, Luke Harding of Sterling, and Kedric Spurgin of Pratt. Brenda, Frank’s love interest, will be played by Rachel Thomson of Hutchinson. Brenda’s parents, Carol and Roger, will be played by Ardynn Hershberger of Lyons and Ian Diaz Ortega of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
The women’s ensemble includes Kendra Klaassen, Keeley Coon, Addison Owens, Alicia DeHaan, Katie Lumbert, Maria Urwiller, Grace Major, Saige Pruitt, Shiann Stewart, Catherine Vessey, and Jenna Weis.
Members of the men’s ensemble include Bryson Brownlee, Jacob Pieplow, Torey Wilson, Nicholas Gift, Nick Amezola, Adam Moore and Robbie Stansbury.
All performances of “Catch Me If You Can” will take place in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. Social distancing and masks for audience members will be required. Tickets are available at the door or online through sterling-college.ticketleap.com. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. The production will be offered online at a later date.
