CATCH ME IF YOU CAN – National Tour Cast Announced!

Posted on August 14th, 2012

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TOUR CAST

Troika Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce initial casting for the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN national tour, which officially kicks off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI on October 7. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will be in Dallas February 12-24, 2013 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.

The charming, high-flying con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. will be played by Stephen Anthony and Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent who is always on Frank’s tracks, will be played by Merritt David Janes. Additional casting includes Aubrey Mae Davis as Brenda Strong, Caitlin Maloney as Paula Abagnale, Amy Burgmaieras Carol Strong, D. Scott Withers as Roger Strong, Travis Mitchellas Agent Branton, Ben Laxton as Agent Dollar, Derrick Parks as Agent Cod, Amanda Braun, Ashley Chasteen, Taylor Collins, Vanessa Dunleavy, Michael Graceffa, Colleen Hayes, Mary Claire King, Trevor Leaderbrand, Casey Renee Rogers, Daniel J. Self, Allyson Tolbert, Nadia Vynnytsky and Bradley Allan Zarr.

Additional casting will be released at a later date.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot—all before the age of 21.  With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank’s trail, we’re off on a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion.  In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren’t so very different after all,  and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

This engagement follows hot on the heels of the recent Broadway run, where the show received considerable acclaim.  The New York Times exclaims, “Hot diggity!  This portrait of the con artist as a young man comes to ecstatic life.”  WOR Radio calls it “absolutely marvelous” and proclaims CATCH ME IF YOU CAN “a real Broadway musical with showstoppers to enthrall just about everyone.”  And Vanity Fair says “CATCH ME will move you to live life to the fullest and dance past anything standing in your way,” and urges “Get your seats now!”

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is based on the book and hit 2002 film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr.

Nominated for four Tony^® Awards and six Drama Desk Awards, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN features a Tony Award-winning creativeteam, with a book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by Jack O’Brien (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

Scenic design for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is by David Rockwell (Hairspray),costumes based on the original design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is byTony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Peter McBoyle.

For more information visit www.CatchMeOnTour.com

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN TOUR CAST BIOGRAPHIES

STEPHEN ANTHONY (Frank Abagnale, Jr.) is thrilled to be touring the country for the first time with this incredible story. Favorite credits include: Lend Me a Tenor (Max), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Hairspray (Link), Legally Blonde (Warner), The 25th…Spelling Bee (Chip), Carousel (Mr. Snow, concert featuring Davis Gaines). B.M. 2012 from FSU. Many thanks to family, MT’12, Troika, and Joy Dewing Casting.

MERRITT DAVID JANES (Carl Hanratty) A UMaine and Circle in the Square graduate originally from Colchester, VT. Broadway National Tours: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), Shrek (Farquaad), Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), The Wedding Singer (Robbie Hard). Regional: Little Shop… (The Dentist), Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Duke), Grease (Danny), Works of Shakespeare Abridged (Adam). Janes has also given performances at Carnegie Hall, Bway’s Beacon Theatre and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

AUBREY MAE DAVIS (Brenda Strong) is beyond thrilled to be embarking on her fourth national tour with Catch Me! Favorite credits include: Legally Blonde (Margot), Hairspray (Amber), and Little Shop (Audrey). A special thanks to Matt Lenz for this wonderful opportunity. And to my family, I love you.

CAITLIN MALONEY (Paula Abagnale) Off Broadway: I Married Wyatt Earp, Tours: Young Frankenstein, The Great American Trailer Park Musical! (Pickles) Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Wizard of Oz (Glinda/Aunt Em). Regional: Annie Get Your Gun! (Annie Oakley), Pajama Game (Babe Williams), Eleanor: An American Love Story (Eleanor Roosevelt).

AMY BURGMAIER (Carol Strong/Principal Owings/Character Woman) favorite credits include: Legally Blonde (Paulette), Reefer Madness (Mary Lane), Chicago (Roxie), Hairspray (F.A.F.) and Forbidden Broadway. She’s an Iowa State University graduate in advertising and design (BA) and journalism (MS). Sincerest gratitude to Joy Dewing Casting, coaches and family!

D. SCOTT WITHERS (Roger Strong/Character Man/u/s Agent Carl Hanratty/Frank Abagnale, Sr.) National tour debut! Regional: Gypsy (Phoenix Theatre); Hairspray (Arkansas Rep); Baby (AZ Broadway); Lyle the Crocodile (Childsplay); Frog and Toad (Seattle Children’s Theatre); Lost and Foundling (Geva). BFA Theatre: AZ State. Much love to Withers clan, CP family and AJP!

TRAVIS MITCHELL (Agent Branton/ u/s Agent Carl Hanratty/ u/s Frank Sr. / u/s Roger Strong) National tours: Spring Awakening. Off Broadway: The Bus (59E59 Theatre). Recent Regional: Spring Awakening (ReVision), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sound of Music (TriArts). TV: Law & Order, As the World Turns. Much love and respect to Jules.

BEN LAXTON (Agent Dollar/u/s Frank Abagnale, Jr.) is thrilled to be joining his first national tour! Regional: Next to Normal (Gabe), Spring Awakening (Melchior), Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Sound of Music (Rolf) and Urinetown (Bobby). Thanks Mom, Dad, Tori, Andrea, Mrs. Halbert and Sham. Proud Belmont University alum.

DERRICK PARKS (Agent Cod) is making his debut in Catch Me If You Can. Recently he traveled abroad as a performer with Royal Caribbean International. His parents and family are credited with exceedingly abundant love and support.

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