Live in Living Color (from the musical Catch Me If You Can): SAB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the infectious energy and theatrical polish of a Broadway opener while remaining genuinely fun to sing in three parts. Eric Van Cleave has crafted a hard-hitting arrangement that works beautifully for groups wanting to build visual storytelling and choreography into their concerts without sacrificing musical substance.

From the first measure, this is pure theatrical energy: bright, confident, and impossible to resist. The arrangement sparkles with the infectious optimism of a musical theater opening, brimming with rhythmic drive and the kind of memorable melodic hooks that stick with audiences long after the final note.

This piece suits intermediate to advanced mixed choirs looking for secular programming with Broadway flair and strong visual potential. It works equally well for groups wanting to feature strong dancers or for ensembles prioritizing strong three-part harmony without requiring soloists.

• Lock the rhythmic precision with your ensemble early in rehearsal. The punch of this piece relies on crisp, unified articulation across all three parts, so spend time isolating rhythmic patterns before layering harmonies.
• Shape the phrasing with forward momentum rather than resting on individual phrases. Broadway opening numbers thrive on propulsive energy, so encourage singers to connect phrases without breaking the musical line.
• Work closely with your choreographer (if adding movement) to ensure musical cues and staging transitions happen simultaneously. Record a rehearsal mix so dancers can drill timing independently.

Open a concert with this, or use it to anchor a Broadway-themed program that celebrates contemporary musical theater. Its 16 pages and narrative clarity make it ideal as a statement piece mid-program, especially if you're pairing it with other pop choral selections or staging it with choreography as a theatrical highlight.

• Three-part SAB voicing with independent harmonic lines
• Rhythmic precision and ensemble unity in syncopated passages
• Coordination of singing with choreography and stage movement
• Building narrative character through musical theater phrasing
• Dynamic contrast and articulation in contemporary choral style