A M E S S AG E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T Greetings! Welcome to the Milwaukee Theatre, and to our presentation of The Rat Pack is Back (For the Holidays)!, our third presentation of the current season, and our last for 2013. We previously hosted The Rat Pack is Back! in 2008; it was a huge hit with the audience, remaining one of the most asked-about shows we’ve presented – and now the cast is even smoother, cooler and more immersed in their characters than ever! “Direct from Las Vegas” sounds like hype, but these artists really did fly in from their regular gig at the Rio. Best of all, they brought a few holiday treats along to share – some well-loved seasonal standards performed in classic Rat Pack style. Kick back, sip a martini, and enjoy! We are looking forward to 2014, when we will present Bring It On: The Musical on April 24. Based on the 2000 movie of the same name starring Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku, Bring It On takes you into the world of competitive cheerleading with a rousing score, red-hot dance numbers and cheer routines, and a compelling story. Tickets go on sale next Friday, December 13. Both the Milwaukee Theatre and the U.S. Cellular Arena will also host events from independent promoters throughout the year, including: Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure, in the U.S. Cellular Arena, February 6-9; Ricky Smiley’s Laugh-A-Thon Comedy Tour, in the Milwaukee Theatre February 15; Shen Yun Performing Arts, in the Theatre March 5-6; the Tripoli Shrine Circus, at the Arena March 6-9; Tyler Perry’s Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned, in the Theatre April 6; and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, in the Theatre June 20. Visit our website at www.wcd.org for more about dates, times and ticket prices, to order online, and to see what other shows are coming. We also have a terrific schedule of sports events at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The UWM Panthers Men’s Basketball Team opened their season on November 19, the Milwaukee Wave are hosting their home opener against Baltimore this evening, with a post-game concert by Chris Daughtry & friends, and the BrewCity Bruisers begin their season on January 17. We are also excited to welcome AMSOIL Arenacross motorcycle racing back to Milwaukee and the U.S. Cellular Arena, January 31- February 2. More shows will be announced in the coming months, so be sure to connect with us online to stay informed. Until then, we hope you will have a terrific time at this evening’s performance of The Rat Pack is Back!, and will return again and again for future shows. Have a wonderful evening, enjoy the holiday season, and have a happy and prosperous 2014! Sincerely,
Richard A. Geyer, President & CEO Wisconsin Center District The Milwaukee Theatre Historic Elegance, World Class Performances The Rat Pack is Back!
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Starring
Mickey Joseph Drew Anthony Kyle Diamond Brian Duprey Executive Producer Arthur Petrie Produced by Dick Feeney Directed by Ben Lokey Musical Director Lon Bronson Technical Director Donlee Cardejon Tour Booking, Engagement Management and Marketing BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC
www.RatPackIsBack.com The Rat Pack is Back! is available for corporate events and private engagements. Call 702-733-1697 or email dick@ratpackisback.com. The Rat Pack is Back!
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CAST
in order of appearance
JOEY BISHOP...........................................................................................................................Mickey Joseph DEAN MARTIN.........................................................................................................................Drew Anthony SAMMY DAVIS, JR......................................................................................................................Kenny Jones FRANK SINATRA........................................................................................................................Brian Duprey The Rat Pack is Back! is performed in two acts with a 15 minute intermission The Rat Pack is Back! ORCHESTRA The Rat Pack is Back! is performed with a live 12-piece orchestra ALSO PLAYING IN The Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino - Crown Theater For ticket information call the box office at 1-(888) 746-7784. BIOGR APHIES MICKEY JOSEPH (Appearing as Joey Bishop) Mickey attended his first acting class in 1981 at Canada College in Redwood City California. After six semesters of intense scene work under the direction of Robert Curtis, Mickey was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena California in 1983. He supported himself through acting school by delivering balloons dressed in a gorilla suit, performing as a street mime on Hollywood Blvd. and waiting tables in an Italian restaurant. He started writing his comedy act in 1984 and quickly became a favorite at local showcases. Mickey’s career as a comedian has flourished in the San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years. He has worked the hottest comedy clubs on the West Coast and Las Vegas having performed with Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Carey, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, Bill Engvall and Robin Williams. His well tailored, hysterically funny comedy act is what attracted The Rat Pack is Back! producer Dick Feeney. Mickey has been appearing as Joey Bishop in this show since 2005 at the Plaza in Las Vegas and on tour. He was part of the show’s engagement at the Gem Theater in 2008, which was nominated for Detroit’s Oscar 4
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Wilde Award for Best Musical. He has numerous television and radio appearances and can be seen in several independent films. Mickey also portrays “the old Stagehand,” in this production. DREW ANTHONY (Appearing as Dean Martin) Since he received his B.F.A. from the Mannes College of Music Jazz Division in New York City, Mr. Anthony has established himself as one of the finest jazz singers in the area. He has performed on many stages ranging from the Shubert Theater to the Intermezzo Night Club in the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Mr. Anthony has recorded three CDs live, the first of which, entitled “You Don’t Know Me,” includes blues pianist Junior Mance on the title song. Drew’s vocal quality and sense of rhythm were a natural fit with many big bands, and after much success he created The Drew Anthony Orchestra. The Drew Anthony Orchestra made its debut in the concert entitled “Come Fly With Me.” He has studied jazz voice with internationally known jazz recording artists Sheila Jordan, Jackie Paris and classically with Munich’s Bavarian State Opera tenor, John Kuhn.
BIOGR APHIES
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KYLE DIAMOND (Appearing as Sammy Davis Jr.) Kyle comes from a musical family. His father was a pianist who fronted his own band, his grandfather a guitarist, and his brother, Kenny Davis, is a very talented and respected musician who has played with some of the greats from the Motown era and toured with the Ellington band. As a teenager, Kyle co-founded what would become a very popular Cleveland area band, The Pacesetters and later another group, Phantasy, which performed in nightclubs around the country. Most recently Kyle has found a home performing in the casinos of Las Vegas while continuing his love of songwriting. He is thrilled to join the company of The Rat Pack is Back! BRIAN DUPREY (Appearing as Frank Sinatra) You probably saw Brian Duprey on FOX TV’s “Performing As.” Brian won the firstplace prize of $20,000 portraying his idol, Frank Sinatra. Talent judge Damon Elliott (music producer of Mya, Beyonce, and Jessica Simpson) was blown away the first time he saw Brian perform; it was like he was watching ‘Young Blue Eyes.’ Television viewers agreed and thousands flocked to FOX’s website to compliment his uncanny likeness to Sinatra’s own singing voice. Singing since the age of 6 and becoming captivated with Sinatra’s voice by age 13, Brian has always felt connected to the golden era of music. From his singing days in high school variety shows to doing stand-up comedy, it took Brian until he was an undergraduate at Fairfield University to really discover his passion for jazz and swing music. Today,
Brian lends his singing and acting talents to The Rat Pack is Back! in Las Vegas and around the country. LON BRONSON (Musical Director) Throughout his career, Lon has been one of the most highly sought after musicians in the country, functioning as musical director, conductor, arranger, orchestrator and composer for national TV, headline performers, production shows, and large scale corporate events. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy® for Musical Direction. His television musical direction credits include: “Last Comic Standing,” “Steve Schirripa Show,” “Earth To America” (Emmy® nomination), “The Ron White Show,” “Viva Variety, ” “Friar’s Club Roast of Drew Carey,” “HBO’s Mr. Vegas All Night Party Starring Drew Carey.” He has performed with: Sheena Easton, The Temptations, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Celine Dion, Jerry Lewis, The Four Tops, Gloria Estefan, David Foster, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Frankie Valli, Bobby Vinton, Luther Vandross, Don Henley, Wayne Newton, Michael Amante and Diana Ross. He has guest conducted with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony Concert Orchestra. Currently, Lon is the Musical Director and Band Leader for the Vegas production of The Rat Pack is Back! having also worked with the companies in San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, and Atlantic City. The Lon Bronson All-Star Band currently holds the record for the longest running band in Las Vegas history. For more information, please visit www.lonbronson.com.
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BIOGR APHIES
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DICK FEENEY (Producer) Mr. Feeney’s first critically acclaimed show was Lullaby of Swing in 1981 in Honolulu, Hawaii which played successful runs in both Atlantic City at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino and Boston at the Bradford Theatre. As the Associate Producer of An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera Hotel & Casino and Producer of Crazy Girls, Mr. Feeney is no stranger to Vegas. After 20 years, both shows continue to play to enthusiastic audiences. In 1991, Mr. Feeney opened Viva Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel & Casino. Now in its 19th year playing at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas remains the longest running and most successful afternoon show in Las Vegas history. Mr. Feeney has gone on to produce numerous other shows worldwide from Japan to Monte Carlo, including Showgirls, The Great Gleason, Bottoms Up, Forbidden Vegas, Playboy Girls Hit Parade and the family-friendly Vegas act The World’s Greatest Magic Show. His television productions include “The Entertainment Page,” “Las Vegas Tonite” and “Karaoke Krazy.” Mr. Feeney has even taken his productions to the sky as owner of the Elvis Presley skydiving team, The Flying Elvi, who were featured in the movie Honeymoon in Vegas. In October of 2008 Mr. Feeney was awarded a star on the prestigious “Las Vegas Walk of Stars” for his outstanding contributions to the Las Vegas entertainment community. The star is permanently on display in the sidewalk in front of the New York, New York Hotel and Casino. ARTHUR J. PETRIE (Executive Producer/TRP Entertainment) has been in the real estate development and investment business for the past 45 years. He is 6
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Chairman of the Board of Petrie Development Corporation, formed in 1976, and General Manager of Asset Development Services, LLC, a real estate investment company located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Petrie’s experience in commercial real estate includes development for Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, K-mart and other retail users, development of apartment complexes and redevelopment of a university campus to offices and housing. Petrie Development was the leader in the United States in the development and construction of barrier free housing for the handicapped under a HUD housing program. He has been active in the development, ownership and management of Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Holiday Inns, Radissons and Hyatt Regency Hotels. Current projects include ownership and renovation of the Federal Reserve Bank building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has participated in the acquisition, refinancing and sale of two casino-related properties in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a founder of Retired.com, Signal Sites, Inc., and Longevity Nutraceutical Labs LLC. BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC (Tour Booking, Engagement Management, Press & Marketing) is a leading theatrical tour booking, marketing and press company, representing musicals, plays and theatrical productions. Currently: Jersey Boys, War Horse, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, Matilda, NETworks presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, Do You Hear the People Sing, Holland Taylor in Ann, Backbeat, 50 Shades! The Musical, The Rat Pack is Back!, MJ Live, Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries, and Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans. bbonyc.com
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WC D PAG E
Wisconsin Center District Board of Directors Franklyn M. Gimbel, Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, Chairperson James C. Kaminski, Kaminski Consultants, Vice Chairperson Alderman Willie L. Hines, Jr., Milwaukee Common Council President, Secretary Joseph Bartolotta, The Bartolotta Group Joel Brennan, Discovery World Senator Alberta Darling, Wisconsin State Senate Mayor Kathy Ehley, City of Wauwatosa Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, City of Milwaukee Representative Dale Kooyenga, Wisconsin State Assembly Stephen H. Marcus, The Marcus Corporation Martin Matson, City of Milwaukee Comptroller Andy Nunemaker, EMSytems Alderman Robert Puente, City of Milwaukee Chris Schoenherr, Wisconsin Deputy Secretary of Administration Jeff Sherman, OnMilwaukee.com Richard A. Geyer, Wisconsin Center District President & CEO Wisconsin Center District 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203 414-908-6001 www.wcd.org The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) is a government body created in 1994 to fund, build and operate the Wisconsin Center, and own and operate preexisting venues now called The Milwaukee Theatre and U.S. Cellular Arena. The WCD board is appointed and it is empowered to issue bonds and collect taxes within strict limits set by the State Legislature. WCD’s targeted sales taxes on hotel rooms, car rentals and tavern/restaurant food & beverage repay Wisconsin Center project bonds and fund marketing by VISIT Milwaukee; WCD operations are funded by operating revenues. Tickets are sold at the Milwaukee Theatre Box Office and all Ticketmaster retail locations, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.com, and at our 24-hour self-service kiosk outside the U.S. Cellular Arena at 4th & Kilbourn. For Group Sales information call 414-908-6092 or email GroupSales@wcd.org. For information regarding advertising and sponsorship opportunities in WCD facilities, call Richard Freiberg, Director of Business Development, 414-908-6056 or rfreiber@wcd.org. 8
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