Sinatra the Musical Review

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Sat 23 Sep 2023 - Sat 28 Oct 2023

Birmingham Rep brings on the glamour with the world premiere of Sinatra The Musical. With a string of well-known hits, a powerful story and a cast of talented performers, this is a show not to be missed.

Produced by the Rep in conjunction with Frank’s daughter Tina, the show takes us into both the very public but also the private world of one of history’s best-loved singers.

Written by Joe DiPietro and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, the show has picked on a specific time in Sinatra’s life – his early career in which he reached stardom but then watched it all slip away. Broke, unable to get a recording contract and with his first marriage in ruins, Sinatra stared into the abyss but clawed his way back to the heights winning over both Hollywood and the music industry.



Matt Doyle plays a Sinatra who is determined and loveable but also so full of flaws. He promises fidelity to his wife then beds a string of Hollywood actresses. He captures the eye of the media and then alienates them by being rude and even violent. He drinks to excess and then wonders why his career is foundering.

Doyle captures that human balance of strength and weakness marvellously so that we understand the man behind the name and will him to get back up and fight another day. Doyle is also a wonderful singer who brings us the colour and emotion of Sinatra’s music, reminding us of why he was and has remained so popular.

Phoebe Panaretos is his long-suffering wife Nancy. We see her falling for the young Frank and all of their enthusiasm for his burgeoning career but we also see her agony as he falls for actress Ava Gardner. She is literally left at home holding the babies. Panaretos gives us a strong and proud Nancy who continues to love Sinatra but, once the break is made, will not take him back.



In Ana Villafañe’s Ava Gardner, Sinatra finds a partner who is just as problematic and contradictory as he is. Villafañe shows us the fire and ice in that relationship as Gardner goes her own way, ruthlessly pursuing the Hollywood dream while fully aware of the fleeting nature of fame.

The show features 26 Sinatra songs including 'Fly Me To The Moon,' 'I’ve Got You Under My Skin,' 'In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning,' 'Come Rain Or Come Shine' and 'New York, New York' which all take the story forward. Fans may be surprised at some of the omissions while people not so familiar with his music will realise just how many they know. Many are sung by Doyle’s Sinatra but others are shared with other cast members giving the songs a richer role in the narrative.

Peter McKintosh has been busy designing a host of different sets all of which capture the essence of the period from New Jersey sitting rooms through to 1940s recording studios and Hollywood mogul offices to a series of hotel rooms.

The costumes by Jon Morrell also recall the great age of Hollywood with women in fully fitted dresses, guys in suits and hats and plenty of bling.

Produced by The Rep with Universal Music Group Theatrical and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, like the Sinatra it depicts, this show has its sights on the big time. I’d be highly surprised if it doesn’t transfer to the West End and/or Broadway so come and see it in Brum while you have the chance.
For tickets and more information see here.

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