SINATRA THE MUSCIAL Sat 23 Sep – Sat 28 Oct
CONTENTS Here is a list of key information you will find inside this Access Pack.
What You Need To Know Our Space Cast List Sonic Story Visual Story Thank You Unless stated otherwise, all photos are taken by Manuel Harlan.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Sinatra The Musical is a play written by Joe DiPietro and directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The show is set in America during the early years of Frank Sinatra’s career and is about his career and relationships. The show running times are approximately: Act 1 - 1 Hour 15 Minutes Interval - 20 Minutes Act 2 - 1 hour The show is recommended for people aged 13+. For more information on the content guidance click here.
OUR SPACE Our new front door is located on Centenary Square, shown here:
Our Box Office (left) and Foyer (right) are shown here:
A Chill Out Space is available during the Relaxed Performance in Meeting Room 1 on the first floor. It has sensory lights and toys. A Quiet Room is available during all performances on the second floor. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to use these spaces.
CAST LIST
Matt Doyle plays Frank Sinatra
A young singer struggling to maintain his career and his family.
Ana Villafañe plays Ava Gardner
The epitome of a glamorous movie star. Fiercely sharp and independent.
Phoebe Panaretos plays Nancy Sinatra
A devoted mother trying to figure out her role in her husband's orbit.
CAST LIST
Dawn Buckland plays Dolly Sinatra The singer's mother. She never has an opinion she doesn't share.
Vincent Riotta plays Marty Sinatra
The singer's father. A working-class man of very few words.
Carl Patrick plays George Evans The singer's publicist. He serves as both a friend and father figure.
CAST LIST
Amelia Katie Connor, Effie Gell & Isla Granville play Little Nancy on different nights The daughter of Frank & Nancy. She loves dressing up and wants to be a singer like her dad.
THE ENSEMBLE...
Maddy Ambus
Greg Bernstein
Samara Casteallo
Helen Colby
Frances Dee
Alex GibsonGiorgio
CAST LIST THE ENSEMBLE...
Ryesha Higgs
Stevie Hutchinson
Tyler Orphé-Baker
Lottie Power
Spin
John Stacey
SONIC STORY The following graphics tell the sonic story of the show. They highlight the key sounds that occur throughout the performance. PLEASE NOTE: If you are attending any of the relaxed performances the show has been tailored to a 'relaxed' atmosphere. This means that: The houselights will remain on at a low level. Auditorium doors will remain open to allow free flow in or out of the auditorium. Some reduced sound levels The Sinatra The Musical relaxed performance is on Thu 19 Oct at 2.30pm
SONIC STORY ACT 1
SONIC STORY ACT 2
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
The show begins with Frank Sinatra singing with Benny Goodman (a clarinetist). Frank is very popular with the women. Some women will come onto the stage from the audience at this point (2 minutes into the show). Benny is not impressed by Frank, but Frank’s family support him and tell him not to listen to Benny’s criticism.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank has signed a new contract which means he is getting more famous. Because Frank is getting more famous, he is getting more money. He buys his wife and expensive shawl and he pays for his friend’s hospital bills. He has a photoshoot at his house with his wife and his parents. Frank leaves to talk to some girls outside his house and a reporter warns Nancy about Frank being unfaithful if he goes to Hollywood.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
The story goes back in time to the early stages of Frank and Nancy’s relationship. It shows Nancy living with a big family and Frank improving his singing. Frank tells Nancy that he loves her and he proposes and she accepts.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank joins the band The Hoboken Four but he argues with the other members and they tell him to leave the band. Frank then becomes a singing waiter who gets noticed by a radio station for his great singing.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Harry James (a trumpet playing band leader) asks Frank to sing with him and Frank accepts. Harry is impressed with Frank’s stage presence but asks him to change his name. Frank refuses. Frank is approached by Tommy Dorsey (a trombonist) who offers him a contract. Frank initially accepts but then realises that Tommy is taking too much money from him and he hires a representative who breaks the contract. This representative enters from the audience at 19 minutes into the show.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank moves to Hollywood and is greeted by Gene Kelly (an actor and dancer). He teaches Frank how to dance and they star in a film together called “Anchors Aweigh”.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank meets Lana Turner (an actress) and he begins an affair with her and multiple other women, including Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank sings his daughter (who is called Nancy after her mother) to sleep. His wife, Nancy, is upset about the rumours of affairs that Frank has been having. Frank tells Nancy to move to Hollywood so he can be nearer to them.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Nancy and Frank have a big party in Hollywood with Frank’s film-star friends. They dance and sing together. Lana Turner arrives and Nancy is upset.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank starts having career troubles after he is seen with the Mafia (a criminal organisation). He is also unpopular because he stands against racism and because didn’t fight in World War 2. Finally, a reporter uses an ethnic slur against Frank and Frank punches him. Frank gets arrested. There are bright flashes of light as he gets his picture taken by the police. George and Nancy tell Frank that he has to have a better public image and that he should play a priest in an upcoming film.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
The scene changes and we meet Ava Gardner in Palm Springs. She talks to Frank and invites him back to hers. They begin a relationship together but keep it a secret from the press. Ava visits Frank in a hotel in Houston and they fall even more in love.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Nancy is upset about Frank and Ava’s relationship and requests an official separation. Frank and Ava are conflicted about their feelings for each other.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank’s career is getting worse and no one is buying his songs. Nancy won’t divorce him and this means that Ava’s bosses are unhappy with her public image. Ava tells Frank that they have to stop seeing each other. George refuses to be Frank’s publicist anymore.
VISUAL STORY ACT 1
Frank is alone in a hotel room. He has booked the room next to Ava. Frank is deeply upset because he thinks that Ava doesn’t love him anymore. He fires a gun at his bed and frightens Ava who comes to check on him. Ava runs away when she hears police sirens. The police arrive and Frank tries to talk to them but they leave. Frank sings about his frustrations.
INTERVAL
There will now be a 20 minute interval.
You can: Leave your seats to use the bathroom Buy some refreshments from the café bar Use our breakout room Stay in your seats if you prefer
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
The show starts again and it seems like Frank has become popular again, but the announcer is just talking about Frankie Lane. The scene changes to show Frank and Ava visiting his parents in Hoboken. They talk about their feelings.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank meets with George again and they talk about how Frank is in love with Ava. George and Frank discuss how to get his career back on track. George works out an idea to call Frank and Ava ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which is successful.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Nancy is very upset and tells Frank that he can have a divorce. Nancy tells her daughter that she will always be there for her.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank and Ava get married and are very happy. Ava has to leave to film a movie in Spain which is very far and Frank is sad. Ava starts having affairs in Spain and Frank is upset. Frank finds out that George has died and they go to his funeral.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank reads a book called ‘From Here To Eternity’ and asks to play the part of Maggio in the film. Harry Cohn (the president of the Columbia Pictures Corporation) rejects his idea. Frank goes to London after hearing about Ava having an emergency operation. She tells him she had an abortion. They argue and are upset.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank meets his friend Billie Holiday at a bar. They talk to each other about music and then sing together.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank gets the part of Maggio and is very happy. Ava visits him on set and he thanks her for getting him the part.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank meets with Nat King Cole and his musical arranger Nelson Riddle. They talk about how they want Frank’s new songs to sound.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank takes his daughter Nancy to the Oscars where he wins the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role award. He is delighted and talks to Nancy who is also very pleased.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
Frank records ‘I’ve Got The World On A String’ with his whole family watching. He is clearly much happier and the music suits his new voice. His family and friends tell stories of Frank’s life while he sings.
VISUAL STORY ACT 2
The cast dance and sing together before bowing and thanking the orchestra.
THANK YOU
We hope you enjoy the show and have a great time at the performance! Please email any feedback to us at: access@birmingham-rep.co.uk.