Lights, camera, deception: LZHS musical tells con artist’s story
Frank Abagnale, played by Zack Keller, is forced to flee from the law once more. His journey will hit the stage starting Wednesday.
Doctor, lawyer, Lutheran, and romantic are just some of the many roles Frank Abagnale Jr. takes on in the LZ theatre department’s musical, “Catch Me If You Can.” Originally a 2002 Steven Spielberg directed movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr. LZHS theatre will bring it to life as a musical.
“It’s a very new show, only five years old,” Tom Skobel, drama teacher and director of “Catch Me If You Can,” said. “The music is great, 1960s Jazz, and it’s in the style of a variety show. He’s about to be arrested, and Frank gets the idea, like he usually does, to put on a show for the FBI Agents arresting him. It’s a variety show – he introduces acts, he narrates what’s happening, like Frank Sinatra hosting a television special.”
“Catch Me If You Can” is based on the true events in the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., a notorious con man. Throughout the show, he takes on many personas and retells his antics in a not-so-usual format. Those acts can range anywhere from duets between father and son to a grand music number filled with flight attendants.
“‘Jet Set’ is one of those numbers where he introduces the Jet Set, ten stewardesses and ten pilots singing about how they fly all over the world,” Skobel said. “It’s a very fun number. He also introduces his dad, who has a solo where he talks about how you have to dress the part if you want to impress people. There are solo or ensemble numbers, and he introduces each number as you move along the show.”
The lead of the show, Zack Keller, senior, embraced the new sort of role wholeheartedly.
“It’s a lot of fun that it’s in the variety show form because I’m able to act as a host to a show,” Keller said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for the audience because they get a new perspective. They see the show from a different angle than they would if it wasn’t a variety show.”
The show is be fast approaching, and Keller says he appreciated all the time spent preparing for the performance.
“My favorite memory is probably the overall rehearsal process,” he said. “I got to meet so many new people and become friends with people that are even freshmen while also maintaining my friendship with other seniors.”
The show runs from April 27 to 30 and will start at 7:30pm every day. Tickets are $9.50 for students and $11.50 for adults.
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