First Posted: 8/26/2014
Jenkins Township resident Wendi Newell has been acting for the past 28 years, ever since her high school days. Her daughter talked her into auditioning for the Little Theatre of Wilkes Barre’s “Catch Me If You Can” which runs from Sept 6-14. She has been cast as Paula Abagnale, the mother of Frank Abagnale Jr., the story’s main character.
“Catch Me If You Can” is a 2002 American biographical crime drama film based on the life of Frank Abagnale, who, before his 19th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor and a Louisiana parish prosecutor. His primary crime was check fraud; he became so skillful that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other check forgers.
The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, with Christopher Walken, Amy Adams, Martin Sheen and Nathalie Baye in supporting roles.
Newell spoke of her current fellow cast members as being “a talented and highly energetic cast” and of the musical by saying that the “music and dancing draw the audience” into the story.
Newell has also appeared in The Little Theatre’s spring production of “Kiss Me Kate” and “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Wizard of Oz” at the Grove Theatre.
Sam Granteed, of Pittston, began acting a year ago, after a friend suggested that he try out for a part in The Little Theatre’s production of “Music Man.” Granteed was casted and has been appearing “non-stop” in performances in The Little Theatre, as well as at the Grove Theatre. The 2007 Pittston Area High School graduate will appear in the ensemble portion of “Catch Me If You Can.” He is also a manager with his family-owned establishment Granteed’s Tavern in Pittston.
Deidre Lynch, of Edwardsville, has been acting since 2010, has been cast as Cheryl Ann and will also be a part of the ensemble in “Catch Me If You Can.” She has appeared in The Little Theatre’s versions of “Rent” and “Cinderella,” both in 2010. Lynch is originally from the Philadelphia vicinity and came to NEPA to attend college. She earned her BA in Musical Theatre in 2008 and is also the artistic director at The Little Theatre.
Mike Wawarzynek, of Branesville, and Samantha Schugardt, of Conygnham, met five years ago when Schugardt hired Wawarzynek as a teaching assistant for Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts in Hazleton.
Schugardt is choreographing “Catch Me If You Can” and said the production features “a lot of choreography with high energy” and is “expecting a great turnout.”
Wawarzynek is the production’s director and Samantha Schugardt is the choreographer. This is Wawarzynek’s second show with the Little Theatre. His first production was “Godspell Jr.” performed earlier this year. He said that performance went “very well” and he is hoping for the same with “Catch Me If You Can.”
Wawarzynek earned BA degrees in Theater and English Literature from Elizabethtown College and Schugardt earned BA degrees in Musical Theater and Dance Production from Indiana University in Pennsylvania.
Performance dates are Sept. 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14.
