Last Friday I stopped in at Teibel’s and chatted with owner Paul Teibel, and was surprised to spot another familiar face as one of the guests seated in the dining room.

It was producer Charlie Blum, who spent more than a quarter of a century at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, much of it as president, CEO and talent buyer working for the entertainment venue owned and operated by White Family.

This week marks the third anniversary of when the stage, hotel and dining resort destination was torn down, including the 3,400 seat performance space.

And on occasion, Blum could sometimes be seen taking his own bows on stage too.

It was nearly a decade ago when I interviewed Blum for a cover story in July 2012 about his final time to “lead the band” when he stepped into the starring title role of a stage production of “The Music Man” produced by Ross Summer Music Theatre at their Reinhart Auditorium in Merrillville.

Besides being a fan of the 1962 Warner Bros. feature film version with Robert Preston in the lead opposite Shirley Jones as love interest “Marian the Librarian,” Blum’s first “Music Man” experience was being cast for one performance as Professor Hill in 1977 at Rockville Musical Theatre in Rockville, Maryland.

Blum even had the fortune to meet actress and TV’s “The Partridge Family” mom Jones, who is now 87, while she was in the region for Mother’s Day weekend May 2008 to headline with the Northwest Indiana Symphony at Star Plaza Theatre.

While Star Plaza Theatre is only a memory now, Ross Summer Music Theatre is back for its 57th summer run after last year’s pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ross Summer Music Theatre is producing a run of the area premiere of the musical “Catch Me If You Can,” based on the book and the hit 2002 film of the same name. The movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, starred Tom Hanks as an FBI agent chasing after Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., the real-life forger, imposter and expert at impersonating various careers, including doctor, lawyer and airline pilot.

The Ross Music Theatre run of the show is 7:30 p.m. performances on July 23, 24, 30, 31 and at 3 p.m. July 25 and Aug. 1 at the Reinhart Auditorium in Merrillville High School, 276 East 68th Place in Merrillville. Tickets in advance are $12 for adults and $11 for seniors and students and at the door for $15 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at www.onthestage.com or call 219-947-4922.

Based on the hit film and this fast-paced incredible true story, “Catch Me If You Can” opened as a new musical incarnation on Broadway in April 2011. I “caught” and reviewed the national Broadway tour when it landed in Chicago in April 2013. It is based on Frank Abagnale’s New York Times bestselling autobiography, published by Broadway Paperbacks, in addition to the movie version with the stage treatment written by Terrence McNally paired with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

The film famously begins with a clip of when the real Frank Abagnale Jr. (who is still alive at age 73) actually appeared as himself as a contestant with two possible planted imposters on a 1977 episode of the popular CBS game show “To Tell the Truth.”

Panelist Kitty Carlisle Hart, who I interviewed before her passing at age 96 in 2007, said she was stunned to see herself on the big screen in a Spielberg directed movie when it was released. Spielberg used the authentic CBS show clip with the real Kitty, but then added computer generated wizardry to insert a new, recreated scene with DiCaprio in his guise of Abagnale Jr. in the same unfolding events of the game show.

“I love surprises, but I can’t believe I ever wore that dress that was featured in the clip used in the movie,” Kitty told me.

“I usually wore more elegant attire.”

This year’s Ross Summer Music Theatre performance run is dedicated to its founders, Jerauld and Margilee Reinhart, who for the first time in 57 years will not be a part of a Ross Summer Music Theatre show. Jerauld died in 2014, and widow Margilee died in March, just two weeks before her 92nd birthday.

“They were responsible for teaching and mentoring thousands and thousands of actors in this area,” said son Mike Reinhardt, when we spoke Wednesday.

“Many are still performing in one way or another. Several of them professionally and semi-professionally. We have a special Alumni Show is set for July 25th to honor all those who have been a part of RSMT in the past 57 years.”

Mike said his new production of “Catch Me if You Can” not only has comedy, but also dance and production numbers as accompanied by a full 25-piece live orchestra.

Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center.

pmpotempa@comhs.org.