THE ECHO

by Simone Bender

This weekend, after months of preparation, the AHS theater program finally staged their highlight of the fall season: the 2024 musical. With years of successful shows riding on the department, the stakes were high, and the group of students responsible for the show did not fail to deliver. Catch Me If You Can is a musical the entire audience can lose themselves in. The cast and crew came together in perfect harmony to produce a show so entertaining that naturally, a shoutout from us at the Avon Echo was in order. With that said, here we present to you our review of the 2024 thespian showcase, the AHS Tony Awards: Catch Me If You Can Edition. 

Best Actor 

While the cast was made up of an incredible ensemble and cast of characters, one performer’s appearance stood out among the rest. In the leading role of Frank Abagnale Jr., senior Abram Teipen, was simply phenomenal, and brought the story to life, as he literally ran up and down the aisles of the auditorium and let the world hear his story through dramatic ballads and comedic relief. The ability to adapt to the many different identities his character adapts throughout the show brought so much realism to the stage and completed the musical perfectly. From his incredibly strong tenor range to his chemistry with his fellow leads on stage, Abram truly deserves the role of Best Actor in this production. 

Best Actress 

The second act came alive with romance as junior Sydney Johnson entered the stage in her role as the love interest of the lead, Brenda Strong. She captured the character strongly from the beginning with the innocence that characterizes Brenda and was able to follow her dynamic development as the show continued, constantly finding her voice within the script. I was so happy to be able to see someone as talented as the leading actor as it contributed so much to the romance of the story overall. Sydney did an amazing job, and I look forward to seeing her continue in roles like this in the future. 

Best Supporting Actor 

Though talented leading actors are vital to a successful show, they are nothing without their supporting cast to keep the scenes flowing, and senior Luke Sigler, who played FBI agent Carl Hanratty, did just that. Every scene he took command of left me not being able to take my eyes off the stage in anticipation of what came next, and genuinely piqued my interest in the plot. His harmonies with Abram in songs like My Favorite Time of Year were a joy to listen to and it did so much for the show to have a strong actor like Luke in the position he was in. 

Best Duo 

The husband-wife duo of juniors Jack Lee and Emery Clark was an iconic kind of comedic relief in this show that I almost believe the musical couldn’t have thrived without. Playing the parents of leading female Brenda, these two had the audience rolling in their scenes like when they performed the song (Our) Family Tree with their hilarious dedication to choreography and character. They truly deserve this award after their pairing in the cast. 

Best Stage Presence 

While I sat in the audience taking in the wonders of the cast, one person stood out to me more than any other in the ensemble, and I knew immediately that I couldn’t finish this review without giving her any kind of recognition. Sophomore Keely Nance’s presence on stage as she ventured through a variety of roles ranging from Pan Am flight attendant to an agent in the song “Don’t Break the Rules” was immaculate and was unmatched by any of the other players on stage. My eyes were constantly drawn to her facial expression and technical execution of the choreography. This award definitely encompasses her performance and I look forward to seeing her progressing roles in future productions.