Hairspray’s Shaiman to Preview
Catch Me If You Can Song on TV
By Andrew Gans
November 8, 2004
Marc Shaiman, the Tony Award-winning composer of Hairspray, will preview a song from his newest musical on the PBS chat show “Theater Talk.”On Nov. 12 Shaiman will perform “Checks,” a song from the upcoming musical Catch Me If You Can. Based on the film of the same name, Catch Me will feature a score by Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by Tony Award winner Terrence McNally. The PBS broadcast will also feature an interview with Hairspray’s newest Edna Turnblad, comic Bruce Vilanch.
“Catch Me If You Can,” the true story of a compulsive young con man and the federal agent who pursues him, starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, as well as Christopher Walken as the father of the DiCaprio character. The picture takes place in the 1960s, a period the writers obviously feel comfortable in, having worked on the 1962-set Hairspray.
Marc Shaiman wrote the music and co-wrote the lyrics — with his partner, Scott Wittman — for Hairspray, the Tony Award-winning musical at the Neil Simon Theatre. The duo also received the 2003 Tony Award for Best Score for their musical based on the classic John Waters film. Shaiman has composed, arranged music and/or written lyrics for more than 50 films, winning Academy Award nominations for his work on “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut,” “Patch Adams,” “The First Wives Club,” “The American President” and “Sleepless in Seattle.” He has also received two Grammy nominations.
Hosted by Michael Riedel and Susan Haskins, “Theater Talk” airs on WNET/Thirteen at midnight. Visit www.theatertalk.org for more information.
