JJ Niemann is a rising star, or perhaps a shooting star in the Broadway and theater world. With a meteoric rise with roles in Back to the Future and Hamilton, JJ has come to Chicagoland and the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre to star in ‘Catch Me if You Can.” And truthfully, the show is a great one, but people are coming from near and far to catch JJ in what he has called his dream role.

This delightful show is a musical comedy based on a true story about a con man who chases his dreams and committing lots of crimes along the way with a hope of not getting caught. Making fraudulent checks, pretending to be a doctor, a lawyer and even a pilot, the REAL Frank Abagnale, Jr. lived this life in his late teens and book writer Terrence McNally and music/lyric writers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have crafted a very fun production that works very well in the round at Marriott.

JJ Niemann has a huge following because of his presence on social media where he has become the King of Theater Tik Tok as evidenced by the long lines waiting to meet him each night at the stage door after the show.

In this new podcast, JJ talks about the show and his love of the role, but goes on to share personal information about his life and how his career developed including a BONUS conversation that can be heard on WGNRadio.com and all podcast platforms starting on Monday.

Catch Me if You Can plays at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire through October 19th; tickets can be purchased at: www.MarriottTheatre.com

Catch it while you can!! And check out my review of the show:

Review: Catch Me if You Can” at Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

                        By: Paul Lisnek, Behind the Curtain, WGN+; WGNRadio.com

****/4

The Catch of the Musical Theater Season!

I saw the original Broadway production of “Catch Me if You Can and even met the real Frank Abagnale, Jr.  who attended that evening. The unlikely story might be considered unbelievable and impossible…if it weren’t true! And what makes it believable is the perfectly cast JJ Niemann who has the charisma, charm and energy to pull off a character that would and perhaps should be seen as a bad guy, a con artist of the worst kind. But, you have to remember that con men can only be successful if they possess the charm and credibility to sell their con to a myriad of people. And the real Abagnale lived the life of an airline pilot, a lawyer, a physician (one afraid of the site of blood no less) and makes it worth. We believe Frank because we accept and love Niemann.

And performing as the perfect counterbalance to Niemann’s Abagnale is FBI agent Carl Hanratty strongly portrayed by Nathaniel Stampley. Even Hanratty, we believe, lives with contradiction as he knows Abagnale is a bad guy…but he likes him…he even wants to help him turn his life around.

The supporting ensemble, the strong orchestrations, and one of the best sets Marriott Lincolnshire has ever assembled, including a fantastic projection in the round screen, lets us know where we are and when it is. A great score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman with a book by the legendary Terrence McNally (Ragtime, Master Class, Love! Valour! Compassion!) perhaps don’t play the undesirable side of a true con man, but then again, why would they? It makes sense that the audience understand how Frank did his cons, how he was so convincing….and so, we get convinced as well and get just how these techniques can work even on the smartest of us!

The show performs in the round which presents challenges for the cast to make the magic work over the course of 360 degrees…and they do it well!

And do not forget to have some dinner before the show (or after the matinee) at The Three Embers Restaurant on site. Three Embers has transformed into the Pan Am Restaurant offering a mirror based on the First Class cuisine offered at the time these events took place in the 1960’s. Plus, choices that reflect the various cities Abagnale visited to pull off his con efforts. A fabulous menu of filet, seafood, risotto, and so much more. Fabulous!

Catch Me if you can is the perfect date night and fun for the family as well….Marriott is known for top notch productions and they raise the bar once again.

This show is quite the catch!!! Just be sure that YOU Catch it…while you can…you have until October 19th!

Here is Paul with the star himself, JJ Niemann!