By Naman Ramachandran
Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Capitol Records
“Sinatra The Musical” will make its West End premiere this summer, with performances beginning June 3 at the Aldwych Theatre in London.
The production, which played a sold-out run at Birmingham Rep in 2023, showcases more than 20 signature songs from the legendary crooner’s catalog, including “That’s Life,” “One For My Baby,” “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “Come Fly With Me.”
The musical opens on New Year’s Eve 1942, as a 27-year-old Sinatra prepares to take the stage at New York’s Paramount Theatre for a career-defining performance. The narrative follows his rapid ascent to stardom, his marriage to Nancy Sinatra, and his tumultuous affair with Ava Gardner, which coincides with a dramatic downturn in his career. The story culminates with Sinatra’s historic comeback, driven by his dedication to family and relentless artistic determination.
“My dad used to always say, ‘If I can’t feel it, I can’t sing it,’” says Tina Sinatra. “As a result, he wasn’t just singing songs, he was recording an emotional diary of his life. And it’s these classic songs that form the heart of ‘Sinatra The Musical.’”
Two-time Tony winner Joe DiPietro (“Memphis the Musical,” “What’s New Pussycat?”) penned the book, while three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (“Top Hat,” “Anything Goes”) directs and choreographs. Olivier Award winner Peter McKintosh (“Top Hat,” “When We Are Married”) designed the set, with a 17-piece orchestra supervised by Gareth Valentine (“My Fair Lady,” “42nd Street”).
“When Tina Sinatra approached me about writing a show detailing the origins of her father’s genius, she gave me unprecedented access to her dad’s personal story,” says DiPietro. “Tina’s willingness to share the trials and triumphs of her father’s life has enabled Kathleen, myself and this remarkable team of theatre artists to create the most revealing portrait ever told about the legend that is Frank Sinatra.”
Read the full article at variety.com
