Seattle's Catch Me If You Can Cancels Previews, Adds Performances Due to Tragedy

The first two performances of the world premiere of the new musical Catch Me if You Can have been canceled due to a tragedy in Tony-winning star Norbert Leo Butz’s family. The show, directed by Jack O’Brien and written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, was set to premiere on July 23 and run through August 14 at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre. Catch Me if You Can will now debut during two newly added performance dates on July 28 and 29 and continue its limited engagement as scheduled.

Butz’s 39-year-old sister, Teresa Ann Butz, was brutally killed in her home in Seattle, Washington, on July 19 after an intruder entered through an open window, stabbing Butz and longtime partner Jennifer Hudson. Hudson survived the attack. The pair was preparing to be married in a September commitment ceremony, according to The Seattle Times. Butz, who served on the board of directors at Seattle’s Compass Center, a social-service agency which helps provide affordable housing to low-income and homeless families, is is survived by her partner, her parents Norbert and Elaine, and her 10 siblings.

Police are currently treating the case as a random act of violence, but have not ruled out the possibility that the attack was a hate crime. Seattle law enforcement has released a description of the assailant, but have not disclosed any official suspects or additional information as of this time.

Catch Me if You Can attributed the canceled performances to “a serious family emergency affecting a principal cast member” in an official release.

The musical is based on the story of real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. Inspired by the book and subsequent film of the same title starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken, Catch Me if You Can follows the rise and fall of Abagnale and the people whose lives intersect his own winding criminal career. Butz plays relentless FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who pursues Abagnale, played by Aaron Tveit, throughout his travels. Also featured in the cast are Broadway regulars Tom Wopat, Kerry Butler, Rachel De Benedet, Felicia Finley, Linda Hart, Nick Wyman and Clarke Thorell. Brandon Wardell, Timothy McCuen Piggee, Romelda Teron Benjamin, Mo Brady, Taryn Darr, Jason Kappus, Jilliana Laufer, Nikki Long, Anastacia McClesky, Shanna Marie Palmer, Angie Schworer, Kyle Patrick Vaughn, Karl Warden and Matt Wolfe complete the ensemble.