Between the cast, orchestra and stage crew, Gateway’s musical program lost 11 seniors to graduation last spring, leaving a younger cast to fill their shoes.
The group is excited to step into the spotlight with “Catch Me If You Can.”
With a creative team led by producer Mary Chase and director Kaylie Wallace, this year’s spring musical is sure to be a hit. Mike Matteo, principal of Evergreen Elementary School, has taken on the conductor role, while high schooler Ava Anderson is stage manager and Josh Fry is the lighting crew manager and assistant designer.
“I am incredibly proud of the creative team, and especially the students, who have truly made this musical their own,” Chase said. “The vocals and choreography are incredibly demanding, and they only shine because of the tireless energy and dedication everyone has shown.”
The musical “Catch Me If You Can” is based on the 2002 hit film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams, James Brolin and Martin Sheen. The movie itself was inspired by the 1980 autobiography written by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding.
This true story sees gifted teenager Frank Abagnale Jr. run away from home in pursuit of fame and fortune. With forged checks, charm and wit, Abagnale poses as a successful pilot, doctor and lawyer. That is, until FBI agent Carl Hanratty catches wind of Abagnale and chases him across the country.
For two seniors, “Catch Me If You Can” will be their last high school performance. Parker Abel and Ethan Settlemire have been part of Gateway’s musical program for four years.
They are cast as Abagnale and Hanratty, respectively. Both are attending Slippery Rock University in the fall: Abel will be pursuing degrees in music education and vocal performance, while Settlemire will study music education with a concentration in voice.
Senior Isabelle Davis is playing Brenda Strong, while her older sister, 2025 Gateway graduate and musical alum Scarlette, is back as a painter and crew assistant.
Their mother, Stephanie Davis, is volunteering as the prop and stage manager. She spent four consecutive years helping when her eldest daughter, Madeline, was at Gateway. Stephanie is now in her self-declared “second run” with her fifth consecutive and (possibly) final year with her younger girls.
For “Catch Me If You Can,” Davis had her work cut out for her finding time-period props, such as luggage, bedding and furniture.
“I started the minute they dropped the musical,” she said. “About 80% of the props I get from thrifting. I also check resale, like Poshmark and Ebay.”
There also are five different bedrooms and two hotel rooms to furnish with era-appropriate dressers, chairs and even stuffed animals. And there is a secret to looking for the right pieces.
“If no one notices the props, that’s what you want,” Davis said. “If something stands out, that’s not good. You want everything to blend in.”
Bridget Steele chose to wait until her kids, Bailey and Jonah, graduated from Gateway before returning as the vocal coach. Steele is a 1989 Gateway grad. While in school, she played Jane Ashton in “Brigadoon” and the angel Chastity in “Anything Goes.”
Steele has a performance degree from Edinboro University and a graduate degree in opera performance from Bowling Green State. After graduating, Steele moved to Italy to further her studies before working at the Pittsburgh Opera.
“The kids are great. We have a young cast and a huge ensemble,” Steele said. “It’s so fun working with the students.”
East End Kids founder and previous Gateway musical director Larry Cervi passed away in January.
Wallace, Cervi’s granddaughter, has stepped into the role. She made her directorial debut with the winter play, “Almost, Maine.” Wallace also serves as the artistic director and choreographer of East End Kids.
“Larry would be so proud of Kaylie. She really gets in there with the students,” said Chase, who is executive director of East End Kids. “Larry comes up often because, well, we talk about him often. We keep his spirit alive.”
If you go
Six performances of “Catch Me If You Can” will be staged at the Robert A. Read Performing Arts Center, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors 65 and older.
Showings will be at 7:30 p.m. April 10 and April 15-18, as well as a matinee at 2 p.m. April 18.
Box office hours to purchase tickets will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 4, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 9 and 14, and one hour prior to all six showtimes.
Tickets also can be purchased online at vancoevents.com/us/DPLS.