Long Replaces Mackie as Costume Designer for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Despite legendary costume designer Bob Mackie working on CATCH ME IF YOU CAN's 2009 Seattle tryout, he will not be part of the creative team as the show opens on Broadway. Multiple Tony Award winner William Ivey Long is now working with the musical.

According to an article by the New York Daily News, Mackie's rep told them, "He wasn't replaced, it was his choice to leave. It's professional and personal obligations that he couldn't change."

The musical's structure, set as a TV-variety show and based on the Leonardo DiCaprio film, was a format Mackie had previously worked with.

Long has worked with the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN creators in the past on the musical HAIRSPRAY and told the New York Daily News he will be looking to channel Mackie's work, calling him an "esteemed colleague and mentor," and adding "You can do no better than to always channel Bob Mackie."

For the full article, click here.

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, Jennifer Frankel, Lisa Gajda, Bob Gaynor, Kearran Giovanni, Nick Kenkel, Grasan Kingsberry,Aleks Pevec, Kristin Piro, Rachelle Rak, Joe Aaron Reid, Angie Schworer, Sabrina Sloan, Sarrah Strimel and Katie Webber.
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 winnerSteve Kennedy (Jersey Boys).

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy