Slaying of actor’s sister prompts cancellation of 4 previews of musical premiere in Seattle

Actor’s sister slain, previews in Seattle canceled

SEATTLE — Five preview performances of “Catch Me If You Can,” a world premiere musical in Seattle, have been canceled because of the killing of a sister of one of the stars.

Norbert Leo Butz, who has a lead role in the show, is a brother of 39-year-old Teresa Butz. She was killed and her partner severely wounded early Sunday by a man who attacked them as they slept in their home.

The attacker remained at large Wednesday despite an intense manhunt.

The 5th Avenue Theatre canceled preview performances of “Catch Me If You Can” on Thursday and Friday nights, two shows on Saturday and one on Sunday. Two extra shows are being added on Tuesday.

John Longenbaugh, a theater spokesman, said Norbert Butz remains in the show in the role of an FBI agent in pursuit of a teenage swindler and escape artist.

The musical, based on a 2002 Steven Spielberg film that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, is a collaboration of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the creative team behind “Hairspray,” which also premiered at the 5th Avenue Theatre before moving to Broadway. Backers of “Catch Me If You Can” hope their show takes a similar route to New York.

The show’s run in Seattle ends on Aug. 16.