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The world premiere of Catch Me If You Can at the 5th Avenue Theatre has arrived in Seattle. From the team that brought you Hairspray. The dream team has reunited for this project! The thrill of seeing an early performance of Hairspray was unforgettable, and helped to put that show on the map. Join the jet set this summer and Catch the next generation of their genius – before it goes global.
The Top 8 Reasons Why The Gays Will Love Catch Me If You Can:
1. Written by our greatest living gay playwright, Terrence McNally – The book was penned by multiple Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, whose credits include Love! Valor! Compassion!, The Ritz, The Lisbon Traviata, Corpus Christi, Master Class, and the musicals Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, and The Full Monty.
2. Mackie Mackie Mackie! – Bask in the glow if glitter – the costumes are designed by the iconic Bob Mackie.
3. Sexy men in uniform – Pilots prancing and doctors dancing to Jerry Mitchell’s choreography! Did we mention that he won the Tony for his choreography of La Cage Aux Folles? And that his Broadway Bares productions have raised over $4 million to fight AIDS in the US?
4. John McDaniel – The Musical Director best known for The Rosie O’Donnell Show has 
worked with loads of leading ladies, including Patti LuPone and Boy George.
5. Eye candy – The role of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio in the film) will be played by the adorable Aaron Tveit – most recently seen in Hairspray and Wicked on Broadway, he will take up the role of Gabe in the upcoming Broadway production of Next to Normal.
6. 3 of the 7 hunky brothers are back – You probably remember Kyle Patrick Vaughn & Karl Warden (the Pontipee twins) and Mo Brady (Gideon Pontipee) from our holiday hunkfest 7 Brides for 7 Brothers – all 3 will be in the Catch Me ensemble!
7. Kerry on – Jet setters will recognize Kerry Butler (playing Brenda Strong, the Amy Adams role from the film) from Hairspray (Penny Pingleton) and her Tony Nominated role as Clio in the hit Xanadu.
8. Prop 8: The Musical! – Marc Shaiman created the music, lyrics, and orchestrations for Catch Me. He also conceived, produced, and wrote the star-studded Prop 8: The Musical.
And on a more somber note, Norbert Leo Butz plays the role of FBI Fraud Agent Carl Hanratty, the man who tracks down clever con-man Frank Abagnale across several continents. Butz’s real life sister Theresa Butz and her partner were viciously attacked and stabbed in Seattle’s South Park by an unknown intruder on July 19. Tragically, Theresa did not survive. A suspect in the murder was arrested and is being held on $10 million bail. The first few preview performances of Catch Me If You Can were cancelled by The 5th Avenue Theatre because of the family emergency.
Catch Me If You Can has a limited three-week engagement through August 16, 2009 so do not miss this event opening first in Seattle. Use the codeword PILOT online at www.5thavenue.org for $25 off tickets for July performances of Catch Me if You Can, excluding the Pearl, Upper Balcony, and Side Balcony sections.
I also have a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky reader for the show on Friday, August 7th (8pm curtain), because that is their Q Club night. The winner will also be invited to join the Q Club subscribers reception in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s exclusive lounge (just beneath the theatre) for a cocktail and appetizers before the show (at 7pm).
Q Club is the GLBT subscription package for the 5th Avenue Theatre. Q Club nights happen on the second Friday performances of shows. A show-themed drink and delicious appetizers are built into the Q Club subscription price. Q Clubbers join together an hour before the show in their private lounge beneath the theatre to enjoy the cocktails, nibbles, and conversation. Q Club packages are available for your choice of 4,5, or 7 shows this season. Detailed info about Q Club options and packages is available here.
If you are interested in winning the pair of tickets to the August 7th performance, send me an email at seattlegayscene@gmail.com with the subject “Catch Me If You Can” along with your name, your city and how to contact you. I will be randomly selecting one lucky winner soon so don’t delay.
For info about the show and tickets, visit www.5thavenue.org.
