CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Lead Dominic Fortuna Bringing Excitement to Hometown of Detroit
Dominic Fortuna is no stranger to Detroit. Born and raised in Michigan, the actor is excited to be playing Frank Abagnale, Sr. in the national tour of Catch Me If You Can, which opens Tuesday at the Fisher Theatre and runs through May 19th.
Catch Me If You Can is based on a true story and the DreamWorks film of the same title about Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who, before he turns 21 years old, passes himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot. The story follows him and Carl Hanratty, the straight-arrow FBI agent, who is on his trail. "It's a story about a con and kind of sexy and unbelievable," said Fortuna. "It's a true story and a movie, but this musical has a Broadway flavor that makes it great."
Fortuna plays the father of the main character and really enjoys his role. When the real Frank Abagnale, Jr. came to see the production, he had an interesting realization and was able to speak with him after the performance. "It was a little terrifying to realize that the real Frank Abagnale, Jr. was going to be at our show and I was playing his dad," he said. "For me, I had to just remember that I'm an actor and take away the real element and understand that I am acting a role on stage with other actors. I just concentrated on that and after the performance, I did get to meet with him. I told him that I have said prayers for his father because I love my father and that I had respect that I was playing his."
Born in Detroit and raised in Roseville, Fortuna then moved to Northern Michigan where he started singing in clubs and dinner theatres on Torch Lake. "I worked summer stock theatre out there and then when I was 18, I moved to California," he said. Out there, he joined the Young Americans then eventually ended up on Broadway and now the national tour of Catch Me If You Can. "I'm very proud to be part of this show and to be working with this great cast. They are wonderful," he said. He is excited to be performing it back in Detroit because he loves the city and being able to see relatives and friends. "It's always nice to come back because there is just something about Michigan and the great people here," he said. "Plus I'm a big sports fans and love all the sports teams in Detroit. I hope to catch a Tiger's game while I'm here."
Fortuna loves his role and hearing the reaction from fans after the show. "I always hear that people never expected this show and it ends up being a favorite," he said. "It's a very human show. It is a story about a family and it will touch people. This show will sneak up on people and when they come to see it, they will enjoy it."
Catch Me If You Can opens Tuesday and runs through May 19th at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. For more information or tickets, visit www.broadwayindetroit.com.
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