Catch Me If You Can is a musical drama with a libretto by Terrence McNally and a theatrical score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It follows the story of a con artist named Frank Abagnale.Haun, Harry. "Making Bountiful Music Together". Playbill, March 19, 2011, pgs 10-11, accessed March 20, 2011. A majority of the plot is borrowed from the 2002 film of the same name, which in turn was based on the 1980 autobiography of the same name by Abagnale and Stan Redding.

After a tryout musical performance in Seattle in 2009, Catch Me If You Can opened at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre in April 2011. The production received four Tony Awards nominations, including one for Best Musical, winning Best Actor in a Musical for Norbert Leo Butz.

Productions

Readings and workshops (2005–2008) The musical had a reading in 2005, directed by Jack O'Brien, with Nathan Lane, Tom Wopat, Brandon Wardell and Matthew Morrison."Jerry Mitchell on Board to Choreograph McNally-Shaiman-Wittman Catch Me If You Can" , playbill.com, October 20, 2005 In private workshops held in July 2007, O'Brien was director, with Nathan Lane, Christian Borle, Angie Schworer, Tom Wopat and Brandon Wardell."Lane and Borle Will Play Catch Me If You Can for New Musical's Workshop" , playbill.com, July 10, 2007"Catch Me If You Can Reading Set for 2008" playbill.com, December 3, 2007 Other actors involved in the readings included Aaron Tveit and Norbert Leo Butz,Nondorf, Tom."THE LEADING MEN: Tveit, Sutton and Caruso" playbill.com, September 3, 2008, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Sara Gettelfinger, Katharine McPhee, Felicia Finley, Autumn Hurlbert,July 24, 2008 autumnhurlbert.com Lauren Ashley Zakrin and Annaleigh Ashford.Henderson, Kathy."Fresh Face: Annaleigh Ashford" broadway.com, June 21, 2007

Seattle tryout (2009)

The musical was originally scheduled to premiere on July 25, 2009, at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, with Jack O'Brien as director and choreography by Jerry Mitchell.Berson, Misha."5th Avenue season's unique "Catch": a musical based on Spielberg film", The Seattle Times, March 1, 2009 The 5th Avenue Theatre previously held the world premiere of the creative team's hit musical Hairspray.Hetrick, Adam."Live in Living Color": 'Catch Me If You Can' Lands on Broadway March 11" Playbill.com, March 11, 2011 The first few days of previews of the show were cancelled due to a tragedy in Norbert Leo Butz's family (Butz played Carl Hanratty).Hetrick, Adam. playbill.com, July 22, 2009 The musical premiered on July 28, 2009, and ended August 16, 2009.Hetrick, Adam.Broadway-Aimed "Catch Me If You Can Ends Seattle Premiere Run Aug. 16" playbill.com, August 16, 2009

In addition to Butz, the cast included Aaron Tveit as Frank, Tom Wopat as Frank Sr., Kerry Butler as Brenda, Linda Hart as Carol, and Nick Wyman as Roger.Gans, Andrew."Butz, Tveit, Wopat, Butler, Hart, deBenedet to Star in Catch Me If You Can Premiere" , playbill.com, March 12, 2009

The production received mostly positive reviews from critics."Musical looking like Broadway 'Catch'" variety.com

Broadway (2011) On March 11, 2011, the musical began preview performances on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, with an official opening date on April 10, 2011. The show featured most of the Seattle cast, with Butz, Tveit, Wopat, and Butler appearing in leading roles. Other Seattle cast members included: Linda Hart, Nick Wyman, Rachel deBenedet, Brandon Wardell, Timothy McCuen Piggee, and Angie Schworer.Staff."Sneak Peek Meet the Cast of 'Catch Me If You Can'" broadwayworld.com, January 24, 2011Staff."'Catch Me If You Can'" broadwayworld.com, January 31, 2011 The production had scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Kenneth Posner, and musical direction by John McDaniel; O'Brien and Mitchell were the director and choreographer, respectively.Hetrick, Adam."Catch Me If You Can Books Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre" Playbill.com, September 29, 2010

The production closed September 4, 2011, after 32 previews and 170 regular performances.

US tour (2012–13)

A United States national tour, presented by Troika Entertainment, began performances October 7, 2012, in Providence, Rhode Island. The tour was contracted through July 28, 2013. The production features Stephen Anthony as Frank Abagnale Jr. and Merritt David Janes as Agent Carl Hanratty.

Synopsis

Act I In the 1960s, Frank Abagnale Jr., a young con man, is cornered at the Miami International Airport by FBI Agent Carl Hanratty and his team. Hanratty asserts that there's no use in running, as his men are trained to shoot. Before his arrest, Frank pleads with Hanratty to allow him to inform the people in the airport why they're beating at him, though Hanratty only wants to know how he passed the bar exam in New Orleans to pose as a lawyer. Frank promises to tell him all his secrets if they allow him to tell his story ("Live in Living Color"). A reluctant Hanratty agrees.

In a home in New Rochelle, New York, Frank lives with his parents Frank Abagnale Sr. and Paula Abagnale. His parents met in Montrichard, France, during World War II. Paula was performing at a diner and noticed Frank Sr. among the soldiers in the audience ("The Pinstripes Are All That They See"), marrying him soon after. Due to money shortages, Frank is unable to attend private school, nonetheless wearing his school jacket to public school. He is taunted there as looking like a substitute teacher, which gives Frank an idea; a few days later, the principal informs his parents that Frank has been teaching French class at the school while their teacher is absent.

One day, Frank walks home from school to find his mother dancing with one of Frank Sr.'s friends. She pleads with him not to tell Frank Sr., but a distraught Frank is soon in court, with Paula and Frank Sr. fighting over custody of him. Frank decides to run away ("Someone Else's Skin"). He soon learns to create fake checks, cashing them at banks across the country and successfully conning millions of dollars.

While entering a New York City hotel, Frank notices several attractive women, all of them stewardesses; he decides to become a pilot. After creating a fake ID card, he finds a co-pilot job at Pan American World Airways. The workers express the joys of a life in the skies ("Jet Set"). Hanratty finds several fake checks on his desk in Washington, D. C. He and Agents Branton, Dollar, and Cod are assigned to track down the writer of these fake checks ("Live in Living Color [Reprise]"). Hanratty gives a word of wisdom to whoever wrote the checks: "Don't Break the Rules."

Frank enjoys his pilot job, remembering how his dad always said that "women love a man in uniform," as "The Pinstripes Are All That They See." Feeling homesick, he visits Frank Sr., upset to find out that he had to close his store to save money. Frank offers him several checks to improve his financial situation, but Frank Sr. declines, believing that Frank should be happy with his success and not worry about him ("Butter Outta Cream"). Meanwhile, Hanratty sorts through leftover items from the hotel Frank had just stayed at, looking for ("The Man Inside the Clues.") Hanratty tracks Frank to a hotel room in Los Angeles, but Frank escapes after tricking Hanratty into believing that Frank is a Secret Service agent named Barry Allen.

Frank attends a holiday party for the airport staff ("Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year") but ultimately feels lonely, calling Hanratty on a pay phone for comfort. Hanratty, realizing the culprit is just a kid, reveals that he, too, has no one to spend Christmas with ("My Favorite Time of Year").

Act II Frank comes across another staff party, this time for a hospital. When asked what his job is by one of the doctors, Frank lies that he is a pediatrician at the Death Valley Children's Hospital, working with "snot-nosed kids" and calling himself "Dr. Connors." Feeling sorry for him, the doctor finds him a job at the Atlanta General Hospital, surrounded by nurses who are ready to take the ("Doctor's Orders").

Hanratty is still searching for Frank, going through missing person reports ("Live in Living Color (reprise)"). He eventually finds the house of Paula and her new husband, questioning her on the whereabouts of Frank. She tells him not to worry, as does Frank Sr. Both plead with Frank: ("Don't Be a Stranger"). While talking to Frank Sr. at a bar, Hanratty realizes that both men had overbearing fathers ("Little Boy Be a Man").

Meanwhile, Frank has fallen in love with one of the nurses, Brenda Strong, though she finds him intimidating. He tells her he has seen the "Seven Wonders," but none of them compare to her beauty. Brenda brings Frank to meet her family in New Orleans, where he lies that he's a lawyer, a doctor, and a Lutheran to impress her father. Her father does not believe him but permits him to be with Brenda after Frank admits how much he loves her. Brenda's parents, Carol and Roger Strong, tell Frank that they have a "family sing-along" each night after dinner; they turn on the television to the song "((Our) Family Tree"), after which Frank proposes to Brenda, and she accepts.

Shortly before the engagement ceremony, Frank discovers Hanratty has figured out where he is. He admits the truth to Brenda, telling her his real name: Frank William Abagnale Jr. He promises to return after escaping from Hanratty. Just as he leaves, Hanratty enters, asking Brenda where Frank went. She laments that she loves Frank and would never tell on him ("Fly, Fly Away") but is tricked into doing so shortly thereafter.

The story returns to the opening scene, where Frank is cornered in the airport. The agents escort passengers out of the area as Frank threatens to run. Hanratty states that he doesn't want to use force but would have to if Frank ran. Hanratty informs Frank that his father is dead; a drunken Frank Sr. had fallen downstairs at the bar, breaking his neck. Realizing he has nobody, Frank gives in to Hanratty ("Goodbye").

Although sentenced to fifteen years in prison, Frank is released after seven. Shortly after his release, he is hired by Hanratty and the FBI to track down others who committed crimes like his. Hanratty and Frank embrace, noting that their partnership is "Strange But True." Hanratty then makes Frank keep his promise, telling him how he passed the New Orleans bar exam. Frank tells a surprised Hanratty that he didn't cheat: "I studied."

Musical numbers

Act I "Live in Living Color" – Frank Jr. and Ensemble "The Pinstripes Are All That They See" – Frank Sr., Frank Jr, and Ladies "Someone Else's Skin" – Frank Jr. and Ensemble "Jet Set" - Stewardesses, Pilots, and Frank Jr. "Live in Living Color (Reprise)"† - Frank Jr. "Don't Break the Rules" – Hanratty and Agents "The Pinstripes Are All That They See (Reprise)"† – The Ladies "Butter Outta Cream" – Frank Jr. and Frank Sr. "The Man Inside the Clues" – Hanratty "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year"†††† - Partygoers "My Favorite Time of Year"††† – Hanratty, Frank Jr., Frank Sr., and Paula

Act II "Doctor's Orders" – Nurse and Nurses "Live in Living Color (Reprise)"† - Frank Jr. "Don't Be a Stranger" – Paula and Frank Sr. "Little Boy, Be a Man" – Frank Sr. and Hanratty "Hanratty's Reprise" † – Hanratty "Seven Wonders" – Frank Jr. and Brenda "(Our) Family Tree" – Carol, Roger, Brenda, Frank Jr., and Strong Family Singers "Fly, Fly Away" – Brenda "Goodbye" – Frank Jr. "Strange But True"†† – Hanratty, Frank Jr., and Ensemble"Catch Me If You Can" playbill, March 2011

†Not on Broadway cast album. ††Titled "Stuck Together (Strange But True)" on cast album. †††Titled "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year" on cast album. ††††Released in full on the 2011 Broadway Cares benefit album "Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols For a Cure 13". "Fifty Checks"- Frank Sr. is a cut song featured on the Original Broadway Cast Album

Original casts