Catch Me If You Can, a new musical from the Hairspray songwriting team of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, will arrive on Broadway in spring 2011, with rehearsals to begin in January.

The book is by Terrence McNally (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Master Class).

Catch Me If You Can is described as “the unbelievable yet true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a sexy young con artist who posed, and was employed, as a doctor, lawyer and Pan Am pilot all before he was 21. Carl Hanratty, a middle-aged bored FBI agent, comes alive when assigned to catch this charming swindler whose check-forging skills have netted him more than $2.8 million. The battle of wills intensifies as they become curious about one another and begin to question what they’re each chasing in their own lives.”

And if the title sounds familiar, you may be thinking of the Dreamworks movie telling the same story.

Lyric is all about musical theatre, and so I’ve decided to start posting news of new shows opening on Broadway and other Broadway-related news to the Lyric blog going forward.

And here’s news of a major Broadway revival: La Cage Aux Folles is returning to the Great White Way, with Kelsey Grammer playing Georges opposite Olivier Award-winner Douglas Hodge as Albin. This is a remounting of a critically acclaimed production originally staged by the Menier Chocolate Factory. It begins previews Wednesday at theLongacre Theatre, and opens April 18.

Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge. Photo by Matt Crockett.

Interestingly, Grammer plans to play both leading roles in the production, switching to the part of Albin six months from now.

La Cage aux Folles features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the play by Jean Poiret. This “freshly reconceived production” is choreographed by Lynne Page and directed by Terry Johnson.

Playbill gives a synopsis:

In the Tony-winning 1983 show, “Georges (Kelsey Grammer) is the suave owner of a glitzy drag club on the French Riviera,” according to production notes. “Partnered romantically with his high-strung star performer, Albin (Douglas Hodge), the pair live a charmed life — until Georges’ son announces his engagement to the daughter of a conservative right-wing politician who’s coming to dinner.”