RIALTO CHATTER: Catching Some News on 'CATCH ME'

Variety has an informative little interview that sheds new light on the upcoming musical adaptation of "Catch Me if You Can," by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the team behind "Hairspray."

The musical is scheduled to premiere at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle, in Summer 2009, with Jack O'Brien serving as director, and Jerry Mitchell choreographing the same duties both filled for "Hairspray".

Variety details that Shaiman and Wittman first considered setting Spielberg's movie as a musical after spotting the published script in a bookshop. "The emotional life of its characters are rich and moving, lending themselves to the kind of expression so right for a musical with heart and soul," Shaiman told the entertainment daily.

The musical had a reading in 2005, directed by Jack O'Brien, with Nathan Lane, Tom Wopat, and Matthew Morrison, private workshops were held in July 2007, O'Brien was again director, with Nathan Lane and Christian Borle portraying the leading roles.

Recent readings have included Aaron Tveit, Norbert Leo Butz and Tom Wopat, all of whom are expected to continue with the production. Kerry Butler is also being rumored to have a role in the upcoming musical.

Catch Me If You Can, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Terrence McNally is based on the 2002 film, about a young con artist's pursuit by an FBI agent, that featured a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, based on the book by Frank Abagnale Jr., and was directed by Steven Speilberg. Leonardo DiCaprio co-starred with Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken.

To read the entire Variety article click here.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.