'CATCH' Previews Delayed Due To Butz Family Tragedy

The 5th Avenue Theatre had announced yesterday the cancellation of the Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24 preview performances of the upcoming world premiere of the new musical Catch Me If You Can.

This cancellation was made necessary due to a serious family emergency affecting a principal cast member, the sad and tragic cause was later revealed to be the brutal murder of actor Norbet Leo Butz's sister, Teresa Ann Butz.

According to the Seattle Times and several local news reports, Teresa Ann Butz, 39, and her partner, a 36-year-old woman, were stabbed multiple times in the early morning of July 19th by what police officials believe to be a male intruder.

Butz's partner survived the shocking attack.

Butz and her partner were preparing to hold a commitment ceremony in September and planned to travel to Barcelona, Spain to celebrate Teresa Butz' 40th birthday in October, the Times reports.

Seattle police on Monday continued to call the attack random, but officials Monday night said it's too early to rule out a hate crime and that the sexual-minority task force has taken an interest in the case.

All of us here at BroadwayWorld.com are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss. Our thoughts are with the entire Butz family.

Adapted from the screenplay by Jeff Nathanson and the book written by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, the world premiere musical based on the hit DreamWorks film boasts a book by four-time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally, who joins forces with the collaborative team behind the hit musical Hairspray, including five-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien, Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell, and Tony Award-winning composing team Marc Shaiman (music & lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics).

The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle's premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of over 25,000 and an annual attendance of more than 287,000. It ranks among the nation's largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film.

Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org

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