Parents have a great influence on their children and how they live their lives. Children commonly like to play dress-up and pretend games, making believe they are fairy princesses, cowboys, firemen or clowns. Halloween presents a grand time to indulge in fantasy every October, as an excuse to go trick-or-tricking. What happens if a child cannot reconcile the world of make believe with one of reality, so that they blur and overlap? What happens when parents set their children on the wrong path and encourage that behavior?
Such a child might grow up to become Frank Abagnale, Jr., who works hard to escape his personal family life by assuming new identities and personas, ones that he has no training for but, nonetheless, succeeds at portraying. The story of Frank's intriguing true escapades have been captured by Marc Shaiman and Scott Whittman, from a book by Terrence McNally. The Broadway musical "Catch Me If You Can” has flown into Shelton’s Center Stage only until Sunday, July 30.
Frank's adventures in crime, as an incredibly successful con man, probably began as an attempt to escape an unhappy home life. He runs away from his family as a teenager and with a million dollars worth of charm, imagination and forged checks, he dons the costumes of college professor, airline pilot, pediatrician and attorney. Two talented young men share the fascinating role of Frank, Spencer Fiske and Jaxon Beirne, on alternate nights, and make this larger than life personality spring to amazing life.
With a string of aliases and a ton of chutzpah, Frank brings the art of false identity to a new height. Nicknamed "The Skywayman," he had police in all fifty states and in twenty-six countries on his trail before he turned 21. The most persistent of all is F.B.I. agent Carl Hanratty, alternately played by Paul Keegan and Matt Sullivan, who pledges to catch Frank and put him where he belongs: in prison.
Frank’s parents, his father alternately played by Hunter Smith and Zach Simonetti, and his mother Paula by Cora Welsh and Zola Kneeland, set their son on a course that they are powerless to control. When Frank meets a nurse Brenda, captured by Kate McPadden and Shay Marie Neary, with the support of her parents played by Mel Byron and Jess Nivison as Carol and Harry Rosenay and Nick Nunez as Roger, Frank has the chance to change the path his life has taken…if it isn’t too late.
Liz Muller, assisted by Justin Zenchuk, are responsible for the fine direction, while the energetic choreography is credited to Stephen Kallas, Katherine Sedlock and Kelsey Sullivan. Songs like “Live in Living Color.” “The Man Inside the Clues,” “Little Boy, Be a Man,” and “Fly, Fly Away” move the action along dramatically.
Center Stage is proud to present “BINGO Jamboree” termed a “musical with balls” that is definitely not your grandmother’s bingo. Written by Liz Muller and John Skufca, this show premiered last year and will soon travel for a professional presentation at a San Diego casino. Come play a bingo card with a nun, a grandma, a pregnant lady and a basketball star, among others and try your luck at the winning combinations. Recommended for eighteen year olds and older. Tickets are $35. Call the Center Stage,54 Grove Street, Shelton at 203-225-6079 or online at info@centerstageshelton.org.
With a rugged determination like policeman Javert exhibited in tracking down Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables," Carl Hanratty makes Frank Abagnale, Jr. the target of his dedicated pursuit. It all makes for an exciting production of theater by an exceptional Youth Connection cast of high school and college kids who has been hitting its mark for forty years.
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