‘Catch Me If You Can’ Onstage at Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Sun., 10/8/23)

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (musical) with a book by Terrence McNally, theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, based on a film directed by Stephen Spielberg (2002) written by Jeff Nathanson, created from an autobiography by Frank Abignale, Jr. (1980.) Lincoln Park Performance Center. Through October 15.

Nominated for four Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2011, Catch Me If You Can is the story of Frank Abignale Jr. who claims, in the course of his young career, having forged payroll checks in excess of $2 million. Alternately disguising himself as an airline pilot, doctor and attorney, Abignale escapes the reach of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, until convicted later in his mischievous career, when he turns evidence to work for the same government agency. Although Abignale is the charming protagonist of the story, Hanratty delivers the laughs as he fumbles and bumbles in headstrong pursuit of his conman. The musical numbers are expository, but wildly choreographed with kicking choruses of sexy airline stewardesses (yes, this was in the ’60s) and others. Indeed, the musical speaks of love and intrigue from a different era, but the theme of family and forgiveness prevails. Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, 2 p.m. 1 Lincoln Park, Midland. (C.P.O.)

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