Aaron Tveit on His CATCH ME IF YOU CAN 'Dream Team'

Broadway Beat recently went behind the scenes of Broadway's newest musical, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, which just began previews at the Neil Simon Theatre last week. During their visit at the rehearsal studio, they stopped to chat with Aaron Tveit, who plays leading man Frank Abagnale Jr. in the production.

On playing the lovable conman, Tveit commented:"The part's amazing. It's this young guy who's not malicious. He never set out to hurt anyone, he just took advantage of opportunities, and made this life for himself, and flew all over the world as a Pan Am pilot. It's incredible."

As for what it's like working with the all-star production team, he added: "I've seen them referred to as the ‘dream team' in some articles lately and it's really true. And it's not just about what they've done, it's how passionate they all are for the theatre. This show is like an old-fashioned Broadway musical told in a new way, I think. And I mean ‘old-fashioned Broadway musical' in the best way possible, I don't mean that to demean in. Because it's this real show that has heart and life, and it breathes."

"But working with these people-with Jack, I think it's changed me as an actor, working with him over these three years. And the score that Marc and Scott wrote was the first thing that hooked me in. When I heard it, I said ‘Wow, this is something special.' To be in a room with Terrence McNally and Jerry [Mitchell] just leading us through this thing- the staging and his choreography, it's really a dream come true. I don't know where you go from here. It's unbelievable."

To watch the full Broadway Beat coverage, click here.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN stars Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz as Carl Hanratty, Aaron Tveit as Frank Abagnale, Jr., Tony Nominee Tom Wopat as Frank Abagnale, Sr. and Tony Nominee Kerry Butler as Brenda Strong. This new musical, created by a team of Tony winners, features a book byTerrence McNally, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, choreography by Jerry Mitchell and is directed by Jack O'Brien.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is based on the book and hit 2002 DreamWorks film of the same name directed by Stephen Spielberg with screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and book by Frank Abagnale, Jr.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN captures the astonishing true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a world-class con artist who passed himself off as a doctor, a lawyer, and a jet pilot-all before the age of 21. With straight-arrow FBI agent Carl Hanratty on Frank's trail, we're off on a jet-setting, cat-and-mouse chase, as a jazzy, swinging-sixties score keeps this adventure in constant motion. In the end, Agent Hanratty learns he and Frank aren't so very different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

The cast will also feature Rachel de Benedet as Paula Abagnale, Linda Hart as Carol Strong, Nick Wyman as Roger Strong, Joe Cassidy, Timothy McCuen Piggee, Brandon Wardell, Sara Andreas,Alex Ellis, Will Erat, Jennifer Frankel, Lisa Gajda, Bob Gaynor, Kearran Giovanni, Nick Kenkel,Grasan Kingsberry, Michael X. Martin, Aleks Pevec, Kristin Piro, Rachelle Rak, Joe Aaron Reid,Angie Schworer, Sabrina Sloan, Sarrah Strimel, Charlie Sutton, Katie Webber and Candice Marie Woods.

Scenic design for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is by David Rockwell (Hairspray), costume design is by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers), lighting design is by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Wicked) and sound design is by Drama Desk winner Steve Kennedy (Jersey Boys).