New York Times
As opening night approached early this month for the new musical “Catch Me if You Can,” the director Jack O’Brien and his creative team were making changes to the production here almost hourly. Dialogue was added; dialogue was dropped. The pacing of some scenes was stepped up. What Mr. O’Brien did not do was turn for last-minute inspiration to the commercially successful 2002 film by Steven Spielberg that is the basis for the musical. He said he believed it was essential to reimagine the original movies, add new layers to the stories and characters and demonstrate clearly to audiences why a theatrical version of a popular film is warranted. Transforming movies into stage musicals or plays has often yielded decidedly mixed success. “Catch Me if You Can” recently concluded its tryout run at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle.