Meet the cast of Catch Me If You Can (CMIYC), our latest musical!

Based on the DreamWorks Motion Picture, starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo Di Caprio, the show follows the true story of the relentless pursuit of charming con man Frank Abagnale Jr by seasoned detective Carl Hanratty, as Frank leads us through the twists and turns of a heady lifestyle of forged cheques, assumed identities, fake names and broken hearts.

With Book by Terrance McNally, Music by Marc Shaiman and Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, the show promises to be a huge success.

Featuring a cast, crew and band of our very talented students, we asked three members of the cast about themselves and their roles in the musical.

Q: Which character do you play in CMIYC and why were you drawn to him?

A: I play Frank Abagnale Jr in CMIYC. I feel that my personality is quite similar to his, being very outgoing and confident.

Q: You’ve been in other Newington College productions – what were they, and how do you calm those stage nerves? Have you sung and danced in a musical before? 

A: I have been in Tartuffe, School of rock (Zack), and Lord of the Flies (Henry). I don’t get crazy amounts of stage nerves as I do lots of music performances and now I’m used to performing. I sang, danced, and played the guitar in the 2024 musical, School of Rock, as Zack.

Q: What keeps you up at night about the role?

A: That the story actually happened. There was a real person who pulled off all of these stunts and acts of trickery, and I find that fascinating.

Q: Are you studying Drama as a subject and what does being involved in theatre at Newington, give you?

A: I am studying IB Theatre and I feel that being involved with theatre productions at Newington gives me a small glimpse into the real world of theatre production and the amount of effort and hours that go into putting on a show like this.

Q: What other subjects are you studying?

A: I am also studying, Music, English, Maths, Spanish, and Environmental Systems and Societies.

Q: And what do you say to all those other students who might like to audition or be involved but somehow never find the time (with other co-curricular commitments), feel too shy or nervous or worry about what their peers might say?

A: I cannot encourage them enough to give a play or musical a go. While it might seem like a detraction from your schooling, doing a production is one of the most rewarding experiences that you can have as a student. The feeling of performing on stage in front of hundreds of people cannot be matched, and you get to become so close with all of the other people in the cast; you will have to spend dozens of hours with one another, but that helps to foster lifelong friendships. I am still very close with many people I have done productions with, and I wouldn’t be close to them any other way. Experiencing a production at Newington is an opportunity that only you can make happen, and it is so very rewarding, no matter what other people might say.

Q: Which character do you play in CMIYC and what’s it like to depict on stage?

A: I get to play various roles in the show as an ensemble member. My favourite is probably playing the lead Nurse in Doctor’s Orders (the first number in act 2). I love that I get the chance to sing, dance and act throughout the show.

Q: Is this your first production with Newington College and if so, how are you finding working on the production?

A: This is my second production with Newington College, I was in School Of Rock in 2024. I’ve been so impressed by the professionalism in the staging, and the talent of my fellow cast members. The inclusive atmosphere at rehearsals and throughout the school always makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger.

Q: What year are you in at SCEGGS and do you study Drama at school?

A: I am currently in Year 10 at SCEGGS Darlinghurst and have enjoyed studying drama and music as electives.

Q: What do you love about Drama and how do you overcome those stage nerves (if you get them?)

A: Drama is such a great medium for self-expression, and working with a supportive cast massively reduces those stage nerves. We are often told in theatre that feeling nervous is a good thing, as it means you want to perform well.

Q: And finally, what would you say to any other girls interested in the theatre and drama in regards to Newington from what you’ve experienced with CMIYC?

A: Newington has an amazingly welcoming atmosphere and a level of expertise evident in all their theatre productions. I would highly encourage girls interested in theatre join a production here as it is such a great way to expand your social horizons, as well as working with an exceptionally talented and hardworking cast and crew.

Q: Which character do you play in CMIYC and why were you drawn to him?

A: I play Carl Hanratty, a work-obsessed FBI detective whose entire life at any point is the case he’s trying to solve. I was drawn to him because of his character, his direct, no beating-around-the-bush nature really appeals to me.

Q: Have you been in other Newington productions – what were they, and if so, how do you calm those stage nerves? Have you sung and danced before an audience before?

A: I have been in other Newington productions, namely Tartuffe, School of Rock, The Bald Soprano, and 39 Steps. You never really get over your stage nerves in the wings… but after your first couple lines, it dies down, and you relax into your character nicely. I have sung and danced before an audience before, but not as a lead.

Q: What keeps you up at night about the role?

A: Bringing out the tension of the situation. This is a man who has been after this kid for years; channelling this frustration and the severity of the situation is tough.

Q: Are you studying Drama as a subject and what does drama, and being involved in theatre at Newington, give you as a student, and a young adult?

A: I don’t study Drama as a subject. Being involved in the theatre at the College is fun – it’s a big commitment, and it can get stressful at times, but there’s nothing like acting opposite some of your best mates, or making best mates out of strangers through this.

Q: What other subjects are you studying?

A: Music, Latin, and Modern History alongside English.

Q: Music plays a big role in your life at school – what sort of music does CMIYC deliver?

A: CMIYC is a wonderfully written musical (by Terrence McNally), the absolute quality that the composers (Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman) delivers is just astounding. It ranges from Big Band orchestrations, to small speakeasy jazz quartets, to bossa nova, and even to 80s pop. It’s just amazing.

Q: Finally, how would you encourage others to take their first steps on stage at Newington?

A: It can feel like an absolute drag to go to weekday and Sunday rehearsals, especially when school is catching up to you, but it is such a rewarding experience. And by the end of the show, in the glory of the applause and the smiling faces of the audience, you just forget your previous embarrassment. This is the essence of theatre, in my opinion – being able to stand on a stage and be a character; not just act one, but BE one. This is a freedom like no other.