Frank Abagnale, Jr. worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline -- all before his 18th birthday. A master of deception, he was also a brilliant forger, whose skill gave him his first real claim to fame: At the age of 17, Frank Abagnale, Jr. became the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty makes it his prime mission to capture Frank and bring him to justice, but Frank is always one step ahead of him.
ACT I
LIVE IN LIVING COLOR
Frank Jr and Company
THE PINSTRIPES ARE ALL THAT THEY SEE
Frank Sr, Frank Jr and Operatives
SOMEONE ELSE'S SKIN
Frank Jr, Operatives and Spectators
JET SET
Frank Jr, Solosits and Operatives
DON'T BREAK THE RULES
Hanratty and Operatives
BUTTER OUTTA CREAM
Frank Sr, Frank Jr and Soloists
THE MAN INSIDE THE CLUES
Hanratty
MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR
Frank Jr., Hanratty and Spectators
ACT 2
DOCTOR'S ORDERS
Frank Jr., Soloists and Operatives
DON'T BE A STRANGER
Paula and Frank Sr.
LITTLE BOY BE A MAN
Frank Sr. and Hanratty
SEVEN WONDERS
Frank Jr. and Brenda
(OUR) FAMILY TREE
Carol Strong, Roger Strong, Brenda, Frank Jr, Operatives and Spectators
FLY, FLY AWAY
Brenda
GOODBYE
Frank Jr
STUCK TOGETHER (STRANGE BUT TRUE)
Frank Jr, Hanratty and Company
BY RICKY PENDLETON
FACT VS. FICTION
Frank Abagnale Jr. His story sounds fantastical and unbelievable. And yet, it is true. Or at least most of it.
The story of Frank Jr. takes him across the world, and introduces him to a wide variety of wacky characters. But he never met a man by the name of Carl Hanratty. The FBI had multiple agents trying to track him down, and the main agent changed over the course of Frank’s criminal career. Hanratty is based loosely on the agent that eventually captured him, Joseph Shea, who requested his name be not included in the film. On the other hand, Brenda Strong, the leading lady in the production, was a real person who Frank dated during his stint as a pediatrician (albeit with a name change). However, the story portrayed in the 2002 film, and the musical, actually happened with a different woman who Frank dated.
Frank’s family life was also slightly dramatized for our production. Frank Sr. makes a number of appearances in the show, but in real life Frank Jr. never saw his father after leaving home. Frank also was the third child of four, and the only one to choose to live with their father after the initial separation. In the real story Frank hung around home for a few years after his parents separated.
But Frank did run away from home, create countless false identities, and eventually was recruited by the FBI, eventually starting his own security company. All real, all illegal, and all really good stories to turn into a musical.
The Story
After running away from home, Frank Abagnale Jr went on a juvenile crime spree, amassing over $2.5 million dollars in bad checks. He was eventually arrested in Montrichard, France, in 1969. After spending three years in French prison and two more in Sweden, Frank was extradited back to the United States. After escaping on the way home, he was recaptured in 1971 in New York. In 1974, he was released from prison for good behavior. In 1975, he went to a bank and offered to reveal some of his tricks if they provided his name to other banks for similar assistance. Due to his popularity, Abagnale founded the security company Abagnale and Associates in 1976.
The Book
After an appearance on Tell the Truth in 1977, where he shared his story, he was approached by Stan Redding with a proposition to write a book based on his life. The book, Catch Me If You Can, was released in 1980. The book was written as a story, rather than a biography. According to Frank Abagnale, his co-author only interviewed him about his story four times, and wildly exaggerated and dramatized parts of it. "That was his style, and what his editor wanted." This was a good decision as the book became wildly successful, and it soon attracted film studio attention.
The Movie
Abagnale sold the film rights to his book in 1980. The film was bounced around movie studios and producers for over two decades, eventually landing with Dreamworks. After a couple of issues with finding a director, it eventually settled with Stephen Spielberg. After a lengthy writing process, which included several interviews with Abagnale, and several issues with casting, filming began in February 2002. Filming took place in 142 locations, and only took 52 days. Catch Me if You Can released in December of 2002, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The real Frank Abagnale had a cameo appearance as one of the French Police that arrested Abagnale in the movie.
The Musical
The musical was written by Terrance McNally, with music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It was first read in 2005, with private workshops and readings through 2008. The first several preview performances were cancelled due to the murder of Norbert Leo Butz's sister. The musical opened on July 28, 2009 at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Catch Me if You Can officially opened for Broadway in 2011 at the Neil Simon Theatre. The show received moderate reviews, with props to the directing team and actors, but some criticism of the choice of the time period. The show won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical with Butz, and a Drama Desk Award for Butz's Outstanding Performance in a musical. The show was also nominated for Best Musical.
FREMONT HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT PRESENTS
A DICKENS HOLIDAY FEAST
BY RICKY PENDLETON
The sixties, a time of cultural renaissance. The world was a very different place back then. You could just walk onboard a plane without going through an ounce of security. The most modern technology was color television, and even that wasn’t commonplace. There was so much to the sixties. Let’s go over a couple of facets.
POP CULTURE
Indubitably, the pop culture of an era is the most defining feature of an era. This can include the type of books, the sports teams, the celebrities, and even the films of the era. The 60s was a time of pop revival. Superhero comics were having a comeback, starting the Silver Age of comics. Radio was slowly dying, so radio shows had to find new ways of surviving. The pop culture of the 60s was definitely unique as a result.
YANKEES
Let’s take a look at a famous baseball team: The New York Yankees. While their popularity was in decline during the 60s, they were still a household name for many New English homes. Their outfit consisted of white with green pin width stripes down the front. The famous players of the day included Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, and Thurman Munson.
THE FLASH
As previously mentioned, the sixties were around the same time as the silver age of superhero comics, and as such, superhero comics were insanely popular. One of the most popular superheroes of the time was the Flash. The Flash of the time, Barry Allen gained super speed when lightning struck the chemicals in his lab.
STEVE MCQUEEN
The King of Cool was a popular actor throughout the 60s. Well known for his movie “The Great Escape,” McQueen was also known for his rebellious roles. He was also a fan of racing.
THE SHADOW
A famous radio, magazine, and comic star, the Shadow was a mysterious voice known for his detective work and ability to hide in plain sight. His catchphrase became a well-known idiom in households across the country; “The Shadow Knows!”
TELEVISION
Although technically a part of pop culture, television shows are in a completely different ball park. Sitcoms and dramas were really popular. Certain actors and people became the faces of their respective shows and films. TV was very important to the entire culture of the sixties.
HULLABALLO
Hullabaloo was a popular television show that ran through 1966. It was a music show that had a variety of singers and songs performed on it, with a new host each week.
JULIA CHILD
Back in the olden days, most shows were broadcast live. In the case of The French Chef, this meant that cooking blunders were seen on television, adding a tablespoon of realism and authenticity to the show. Adding to the show’s popularity was its friendly and enjoyable host, Julia Child. Her likeable face and warm voice made watchers feel as though she was talking directly to them, and she soon became a household name. Her variety in recipes also caused many American home cooks to try to experiment with new dishes.
BEN CASEY
Among the famous 60s medical dramas, none quite reached the fame of Ben Casey. Featuring the titular character, Ben Casey ran from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its medical accuracy, even hiring a consultant to come in and show the actors how to use the equipment properly.
MITCH MILLER
The famous show, Sing Along With Mitch Miller, may not have created the sing-a-long concept, but it sure popularized it. The show featured the titular Mitch Miller along with a male chorus. The lyrics of whatever song was being sung was shown along the bottom of the screen. The show also occasionally had several guest celebrities.
FAMOUS LOCATIONS
There are many famous places throughout the world, and the most popular places are often driven by people’s stomach. Therefore, restaurants end up representing class and popularity.
THE LATIAN QUARTER
Of the famous places in France, the Latin Quarter of Paris comes to mind easily. Home to several of Paris’s famous universities, the Latin Quarter is known for its lively student population, along with many very famous restaurants. It is also home to a large part of French history and culture.
TOOTS SHOR
When discussing places for the rich and famous, nothing else in 1960s New York screamed “LOOK AT MY MONEY!” quite like Toots Shor’s Restaurant. Although the food was nothing spectacular, the place was well-known for the large crowd of celebrities who frequented the joint. Among the many famous people who enjoyed the restaurant's cuisine were Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Orson Welles, and Ernest Hemingway.
THE FLAME
During the sixties, Las Vegas was a happening place, complete with many, many restaurants. But perhaps the busiest restaurant in Sin City was “The Flame.” It was so popular that you could arrive at 6 o’clock in the morning and still not get a seat. People thought it was a privilege to eat there. The restaurant also offered matchboxes with the logo of the restaurant on them.
BRANDS AND PRODUCTS
Something that companies have known for a while is that recognition is key. Having a catchy jingle, getting a recognizable mascot, even just having a slogan, brand recognition has always been very important to companies. That’s why brands get so ingrained into the culture of an era.
PAN AM
In the later half of the twentieth century, one airline company out-flew them all. That company was Pan American Airlines. Pan Am was well-known outside the US as the unofficial airline flag carrier for the United States.
BOTANY 500
A brand of fancy suit coat that was at its height in the 60s. The brand appeared on several famous television and game shows, including, but not limited to, Family Feud, The Twilight Zone, and the Dick Van Dyke Show.
JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE WHISKEY
The number one whiskey sold in the US is Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. It was also called “Jacks.” There is some debate about whether it is whiskey or bourbon.
KOOL BRAND CIGARETTES
Sometimes when a certain brand becomes popular enough, that brand becomes synonymous with their product. Kleenex tissues, for example. Such was the case for Kool Cigarettes in the 1960s. Kool used a cartoon penguin to advertise their product, especially to younger people, although this practice was no longer in use by the early 1960s.
LAND O' LAKES BUTTER
When talking about the food industry, no dairy company was as popular as the Land O’ Lakes butter company. It soon became almost synonymous with butter in general.
