Catch Me If You Can (Sneak Peek in Seattle)

[antz]

I just got back from a little spotlight on the new musical Catch Me If You Can in Seattle. Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Terrence McNally, Jack O'Brien,Jerry Mitchell John McDanieland, and even Bob Mackie were on hand to talk about the production.

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about yet another recent movie turned musical, but then Marc started describing the story being told as a 60s tv extravaganza with big production numbers, etc. I was easily convinced that the concept was going to work. Only hint we got of any visuals were a few Bob Mackie designs of the pilots, fight attendants, opening number costumes - and did they look - um ... FIERCE (for lack of a better term). They seemed really excited about the whole thing. Genuinely so, not just to get press.

Shaiman and Wittman mentioned that the score is very diverse going from 60s big band to crooner to country to 60s rock etc. Then Marc Shaiman got behind the piano. He talked with Scott about how fun it was (and frantic) to write the closing number to the Tony's this year - All the while saying, "Liza, get out of the way!"

Tom Wopat (who will play Frank Abagnail Sr.) came out and performed a number. Excellent song and Tom nailed it.

Aaron Tveit then came out and did a number that brought tears to my eyes. I can't recall the title, but it was about traveling the world and seeing everything, but nothing could compare to the love at home (a love song that isn't overly sentimental, yet gets you where it counts)

Norbert Leo Butz then comes out and does a great number too (he'll be amazing in his role)

The creative team talk some more and then Aaron Tveit comes out again and does another number. A complete show stopper! WOW!!! (Again brought me to tears). Those who've seen NTN know how talented he is. I wish I had been able to see that show before he left.

Then they wrapped it up with one more song, a duet between father and son (Wopat and Tveit).

The concept sounds great, but even more compelling were the music and lyrics. If they get it together, this is going to be a fantastic show. I can't wait to see this out of town (in my town) try out! No word of a Broadway date, but it certainly looks like that's where they're headed with this one.

[Aswatrowinkenbo]

I just got back from Spotlight Night too. I completely agree with you, Aaron's song was heart melting.

[MTVMANN]

So was he not in N2N tonight?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

He left the show to do CATCH ME IF YOU CAN in Seattle. He's returning to N2N in September.

[MTVMANN]

Really? Did he just leave this past week?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Last Saturday.

[Felm_heart]

Saturday was Aaron's last night. Obviously he stayed in NYC until the Tonys were over and now he's in Seattle until September.

I am so excited for this show! I love the movie, and it seems like they have some amazing people involved with it.

[choitoy]

After attending Spotlight Night, it kinda makes me want to see the show more to see how the concept will all come together.

The songs were nice, but they all seemed like moment songs, and didn't seem to advance the story, but if their concept is "big 60's TV show extravaganza" and they do it smartly, it could work.

If you heard the "demos", these are the songs:

Tom Wopat sang "50 Checks", and apparently he is meant to sing it in the style of a Frank Sinatra crooner. It sounds like we are meant to see the show from the perspective of Frank Jr.'s character, and how he sees the world as an overglorified 60's TV Special, and thus he sees his dad as a suave Frank Sinatra type.

Aaron Tveit sang "Seven Wonders", and he did put a little countryish twang to it (over the demo version), but he still blew the song out of the water.

Norbert Leo Butz, I'm gonna have to get used to as the FBI agent, since I still have the mental image of him as the con-man in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. His song was a new song, with some patter sections, it's probably replacing "I Don't Get It" from the demo.

Aaron's second number is the working Finale to the show, and another "newer" song. He sang the hell out of the song and raised the roof with his voice, but I don't like the lyrics to the song, as he is telling us that it's the "end of the show", literally (the end of the real show, the end of the "60's TV Extravaganza"), and figuratively (as it's the end of his character's story for now). I guess I don't like endings that have to tell us that it's the end (I didn't like Shrek's "This Is Our Story" either), but it might work in context of the TV concept.

The last song they sang was "Butter Outta Cream". It was an OK song, but I don't get the "Make coffee outta beans" section of the song. Was this in the movie version? Again, it has a 60's crooner/swinger lounge sound to it.

It's too bad that they had none of the female character songs performed, I don't know if Kerry Butler has made it to Seattle yet for rehearsals.

[Craig]

I've been listening to Marc and Scott's score for a few years now and think it's their best work. As I wrote a few years back when I saw a reading - I simply can't wait to see it staged.

[hmpeterson]

No Kerry Butler?

[TimesSquareRegular]

Hopefully more selections will show up, but for those of us who were not in Seattle yesterday....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m98a_TCvOUw

[SingingCats]

I love this movie, I love Aaron, and I love Norbert. Dear God, please bring this show to New York soon.

[nomdeplume]

A huge amount of shows are closing soon and over the summer, so maybe there'll be a space for it.

So far there are three upcoming shows I will definitely see. This, The Adams Family, and Spiderman. They all sound fun.

[DayDreamer]

I too have been reluctant about another movie-to-stage show, but last night's Spotlight sold the show. The songs we heard were excellent, their excitement about the show was genuine, the creative team is a dream team indeed, and the great cast. They did say Kerry Butler is in the show, but she was not at the Spotlight last night.

I only wish Norbert had done another song.

[Kad]

This is probably the production I'm most looking forward to next season.

[nomdeplume]

I saw that Butter Out of Cream vid and was not very impressed with Aaron who seemed a bit 'precious" in it, plus I'd rather hear a true tenor for that role; he sounds like a baritone. I'd rather the character's behavior stemmed from an incredulous innocence at getting away with it all, rather than a cocky know-it-all act.

I don't suppose they could get a Matthew Morrison for that lead, there's only one of him and he's tied up, but that is the kind of talent the role needs.

Frankly the singer that followed Aaron was by far the better singer for voice and phrasing. Was that Tom Wopat? The lights are so hot and the video quality so poor I can't see his face, it's a blur. Wopat is an excellent singer and showman.

[mzk2004]

I believe Morrison actually did readings for it. He's a bit old thought -don't you think?

[ljay889]

Aaron a baritone???

[Kad]

nomdeplume- You should note that they haven't even started rehearsals yet.

[nomdeplume]

Morrison's stage age is younger because he's so agile.

I doubt he'd want to leave his TV show at this point, however. I doubt Broadway could match the pay even if the excitement level of doing the live show is a zillion times higher.

[somethingwicked]

Morrison played Frank Jr. in the very first reading back in 2005.

In a workshop done a few years later in 2007, Christian Borle played the part.

Tveit became involved last year, I believe.

[hmpeterson]

I think it's a great cast and I am really looking forward to this production. When does the Seattle tryout start?

[nomdeplume]

David Burnham would also be good as Frank, Jr.

[TheatreDiva90016]

"Aaron a baritone???"

Ditto...

[nomdeplume]

He may have a tenor range but he sure sounds in the baritone while singing that video clip.

Listen to it.

It's all I've heard of him so far.