ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, the Tony-nominated Broadway musical, tells the 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, it's 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 different after all, and Frank finds out what happens when love catches up to a man on the run.

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 has some truly standout performances.

Fast-rising Broadway headliner AARON TVEIT (Next to Normal, Wicked) stars as Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a teenager who runs away from home in search of the glamorous life. With nothing more than a boyish charm, a big imagination, strapping good looks and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank lives the high life and wins the heart of nurse Brenda Strong, the girl of his dreams (played by Tony® nominee KERRY BUTLER (Xanadu, Hairspray). Tony winner and Broadway fave NORBERT LEO BUTZ (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wicked) plays Carl Hanratty, the dogged FBI agent who chases Frank to the end and finds something he never expected. And Tony nominee TOM WOPAT (Annie Get Your Gun, Chicago) returns to Broadway as Frank, Sr., who sees his dreams of making it big lived out in his son's fantastic adventures.

The cast of showgirls and others includes 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 (a knockout who I've long enjoyed in various shows), Joe Aaron Reid, Angie Schworer, Sabrina Sloan, Sarrah Strimel and Katie Webber.

This was the first Broadway musical we took my son (age 8) to see, and it was a treat to experience it through his eyes.  It was right up his alley, given his love of everything rescue or security-related, including an intrigue with the FBI.  He was especially interested to hear that this is a true story and that Abagnale Jr. went on to work for the FBI and the very man who arrested him.  He would have loved a car chase or two, but enjoyed the gun shooting action and aisle chases.   

Butz is one of my favorite Broadway performers, and he delivers in CATCH ME.  In "Don't Break the Rules," he transforms his stellar voice and mannerisms to reflect a weather-beaten guy FBI agent, and it's a showstopper. He's such a talent, and if you're not familiar with his work, this is an excellent opportunity to see him in rare form, though I would have liked more.

ACT II was great.  Linda Hart as Carol Strong (Brenda's mother) offered winning comic relief when Frank meets Brenda's parents, and Kerry Butler blew it out of the park with "Fly, Fly, Away."   I would have welcomed more of her as well.  "Our Family Tree" was delightful, and Tveit showed off his pipes to their utmost with "Good-Bye." 

I wasn't enamored with the orchestra being visible at times on the stage, though the concept of Abagnale Jr.'s life being one big show had validity.  It just felt like I was watching two shows in one, and my preference was the less glammed up version.

CATCH ME features a Tony Award-winning team with a book by TERRENCE McNALLY (The Full Monty, Ragtime), a score by MARC SHAIMAN and SCOTT WITTMAN (Hairspray), choreography by JERRY MITCHELL (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by JACK O'BRIEN (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). 

Scenic design 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 winner Steve Kennedy (Jersey Boys).

The set and staging were well done, and overall, it's an enjoyable theatre experience.  I look forward to sharing future Broadway shows with my son, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN got us off to a good start.  

DISCOUNT OFFER
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CLICK HERE: http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1515546?
Or call 877-250-2929 and use code MHOOD1
Or, bring a print out of this offer to the Neil Simon Theatre box office,
250 W. 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue).

Box Office Hours:
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Performance Schedule:
Tues 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm, Wed and Sat 2pm, Sun 3pm

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*Offer valid for all performances through 7/31/11. All prices include a $2.00 facility fee. Limit 8 tickets per order. Offer subject to availability and prior sale. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.

ROBIN'S SHOW RECOMMENDATION: THE KID

(Photo credit: Serge Nivelle)

The Kid is based on the true story of what happens when sex columnist Dan Savage and his boyfriend decide to start a family. Created by Andy Monroe (music), Michael Zam (book) and Jack Lechner (lyrics), it was the winner of the 2009 BMI Foundation Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. And, I can see why. It's engaging, entertaining and particularly affecting, if you're a parent, and you had any adoption experience.

Dan Savage, author of the memoir, The Kid: What Happened after My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant, is widely recognized for his syndicated relationship and sex column “Savage Love” and weekly podcast “Savage Lovecast.”

Directed by Scott Elliott, the cast features Christopher Sieber (Broadway: Shrek – Tony® Award nomination, Monty Python's Spamalot - Tony nom.; TV: "Pushing Daisies") in the role of Dan Savage,and Lucas Steele (B’way: The Threepenny Opera, Off-B’way: Oliver Twist-TFANA, Corpus Christie-Bouwerie Lane Theater, Wickets-3LD) as Dan’s boyfriend Terry.

The company also includes Kevin Anthony, Susan Blackwell, Jill Eikenberry as Dan’s Mom, Jeannine Frumess, Ann Harada, Tyler Maynard, Brooke Sunny Moriber, Justin Patterson and Michael Wartella.

Set Design is by Derek McLane, Costume Design is by Jeff Mahshie, and Sound Design is by Ken Travis. Music Supervision/Arrangements/Orchestrations are by Dominick Amendum.

Musical Direction is by Boko Suzuki, and Musical Staging is by Josh Prince. Animation is by Jeffrey Scher, whose work appears in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Academy Film Archives, Hirshhorn Museum, Pompidou Centre, Musee d’Art Moderne, Vienna Kunsthalle and Austrian National Archive, and others.

Scott Elliott (Director) is the founding Artistic Director of The New Group, where he has produced over 45 plays, 20 of which he has personally directed. Broadway credits include Present Laughter, Barefoot in the Park, and 3 plays produced by The Roundabout: The Threepenny Opera, The Women, and Three Sisters. He is also a film director and screenwriter.

Andy Monroe (music) wrote the music and lyrics for The Tragic and Horrible Life of The Singing Nun (2006 New York Musical Theater Festival). He is the recipient of both the 2001 BMI Foundation Jerry Harrington Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement and the 2009 Jerry Bock Award. Dramatist Guild Fellow (2007-8) and proud member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.

Michael Zam (book) is penning a stage adaptation of the novel Selfish & Perverse by Bob Smith for director Jerry Mitchell. Screenplays include (with co-writer Jaffe Cohen) Best Actress (Black List of Best New Screenplays, 2009), to be produced by Plan B Entertainment and directed by Ryan Murphy; and Wife Vs. Ninja for DreamWorks Pictures. With his collaborators, Zam was honored with BMI’s Jerry Bock Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre for The Kid. He teaches screenwriting at NYU (Award for Teaching Excellence, 1998 and 2007) and Modern British Drama every August at NYU in London.

Jack Lechner (lyrics) is a songwriter, most recently for the HBO special A Family Is A Family Is A Family (with Andy Monroe); a writer; an NYU professor; and a film and TV producer, based at Washington Square Films. Member of BMI Musical Theater Workshop (Advanced); won 2004 Jerry Harrington Award.

The Kid plays at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre/410 West 42nd Street, between 9th& 10th Avenues) as follows: Monday at 8:00 PM, Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with a matinee on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

Tickets may be arranged through Ticket Central at http://www.ticketcentral.com or
(212) 279-4200, or at the Theatre Row Box Office (12:00–8:00 PM daily). Tickets are $60.00 plus $1.25 restoration fee. For more information, visit http://www.thenewgroup.org.