Terrence McNally to Pen Book for Catch Me Tuner
"Scott and I are thrilled to be collaborating with the hardest working man in show business," Shaiman told Broadway.com. "Ever since we were children and saw The Ritz, we both knew that Terrence McNally was someone we had to work with one day. We are not worthy!"
McNally won Best Book of a Musical Tony Awards for his work on Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. He was also nominated for a Tony for his libretto for The Full Monty. His other musical credits include The Rink, Urban Blight, The Food of Love, The Visit and A Man of No Importance. Best known for his straight plays, McNally has also received Tony Awards for Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, both of which won Best Play honors.
Catch Me If You Can tells the true story of Frank Abagnale, a successful con artist who managed to impersonate a doctor, a pilot, a lawyer and even an FBI agent. The 2002 film, based on a book by Abagnale and Stan Redding, starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale and Tom Hanks as the FBI agent that tries to capture him. The December 2002 release was a critical and popular success, earning great reviews and well over $200 million worldwide in theatrical release. Jeff Nathanson Rush Hour 2, Speed 2 wrote the screenplay.
"Frank Abagnale Jr.'s life and the Spielberg film based on it are rich with both entertaining and emotional possibilities, and we are over the moon to finally get started with this legendary librettist," Shaiman said. "Our plan is to have enough ready for a reading this January, and then to knock the socks off Broadway sometime in the very near future... either that or become contestants on a reality show."