Teen con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. is back in action and once again scamming his way across the country in the Colony Theatre’s exuberant, crowd-pleasing revival of the 2011 Broadway musical based on Steven Spielberg’s popular 2002 biopic.

With songs by Hairspray Tony-winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and book by four-time Tony champ Terrence McNally, Catch Me If You Can (The Musical) gets started with a bang at Miami International Airport as a team of FBI agents corner young Frank (Blake Jenner), who quickly promises FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Joe Abraham) to confess the multitude of crimes he’s being arrested for on condition that Hanratty allow him to tell his story like a 1960s NBC variety hour, i.e. “Live In Living Color.”

 And so with Carl looking on, we flash back to Frank’s early years as a New Rochelle teen living with his Italian-American dad Frank Sr. (Kevin Bailey) and Parisian mom Paula (Leslie Stevens) but dreaming of a life beyond suburban New York.

When his family’s financial woes rule out a return to private school, Frank Jr. wears his old uniform to his new public high school where, upon being taken for a member of the faculty, sly Frank poses successfully as a substitute French teacher—for a few days at least.

Then, when his parents’ decision to divorce means choosing between Dad and Mom, Frank Jr. makes up his mind to hit the road and live in “Someone Else’s Skin.”

Before long, Frank has not only cashed forged check after forged check to the tune of millions, he has faked himself a PanAm ID the better to live life as a member of the fabled “Jet Set” with FBI agent Carl stepping amusingly into the action in attempt to discover the identity of “The Man Behind The Clues.”

Catch Me If You Can may have lasted less than half a year on Broadway, but its truth-told-as-a-TV-special conceit proves inspired in production number after production number performed at the Colony by a triple-threat ensemble who sing and dance their behinds off as flight attendants, pilots, FBI agents, doctors, nurses, and more.

Last but not least, Catch Me If You Can serves up a surprisingly touching love story between Frank Jr. and nurse Brenda Strong (Gabbie Adner), a romance that allows us to discover in Frank the soul of a romantic to match the father-son relationship that develops unexpectedly between pursuer and pursued.

Under Michael Donovan’s spirited direction, Colony favorite Jenner is so darned likable as Frank Jr. that no matter his latest impersonation or scam, he’s got us in the palm of his hand and the relationship that develops between him and the simply marvelous Abraham’s Inspector Javert-worthy Carl turns out to be the musical’s heart and soul, and gives Jenner the chance to show us the scared and wounded kid Frank still is beneath his suave, self-assured facade opposite Abraham’s best-father-figure-ever Carl.

Bailey and Stevens offer terrific support as Frank’s less than perfect real-life parents, the former giving the Rat Pack a run for their silver-throated money, the latter investing Paula with a combination of saucy French charm and Cyd Charisse’s legs.

Adner is girl-next-door perfection as Brenda and Whitney Kathleen Vigil sizzles as seductive escort Cheryl Ann and Brenda’s cougar mom Carol married to a splendid Brad Griffith’s stern but soft-hearted Roger.

Last but not least, ensembles don’t get any more fabulous than FBI Agents, etc. Leonel Ayala, dance captain Matthew Mason Baker, Luc Clopton (Agent Cod), Caleb Kocsis, Spencer Del Carmen (Agent Dollar), Jesse Graham (Agent Branton), and Almand Martin Jr. and their stewardess/nurse counterparts Bella Bilandzija, Sophie Liu David, Anne Hart, Samantha Lawrence-Mata, and Lucy Schene.

Choreographer Natalie Iscovich puts all of the above through their paces, and then some, in one 1960s-style variety show dance number after another, the male ensemble earning the evening’s longest and loudest cheers for the athletically show-stopping “Don’t Break The Rules” accompanied by music director Brent Crayon and the show’s awesome live band.

Jennifer Lynn Deck’s multitude of 1960s costumes and Leland Stephens’ groovy wigs (love those perky flips!) are the production’s top design element, with additional snaps to John M. McElveney for his nifty period props.

Less successful is Luke Moyer’s lighting design, which appears to have been kept rather too subdued for a musical as pizzazzy as Catch Me If You Can, possibly so as to not drown out Gabrieal Griego’s scene-setting projections, though I can’t complain an iota about Robert Arturo Ramirez’s crystal-clear sound design.

Coby Rogers is assistant director and Riley Roberts is assistant choreographer. Stephanie Sandler is technical director. Casey Sottile is stage manager and Corey Near-Ansari is assistant stage manager. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA, and Richie Ferris, CSA. Ken Werther is publicist.

There was a time about a dozen or so years ago when regional theaters were competing to stage the then brand-new Catch Me If You Can, and I saw several of these productions and loved them, just one reason I’m thrilled that the multiple-Tony-nominated musical is back to provide Colony Theatre audience with a bona fide entertainment bonanza as summer turns to fall.

Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street, Burbank. Through October 18. Fridays at 8:00, Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00, and Sundays at 3:00.
www.colonytheatre.org

–Steven Stanley
September 18, 2026
Photos: Ashley Erikson

Tags: Colony Theatre, Los Angeles Theater Review, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Terrence McNally