Twyla Tharp Reveals Her Reasons for Choosing a Sinatra Musical

In a recent interview with The Star Ledger, legendary director/choreographer Twyla Tharp revealed why she chose Frank Sinatra as the basis for her new musical, COME FLY AWAY, opening Thursday at the Marquis Theatre.

When posed the question, "Why Sinatra?" Tharp revealed, "I did it for two reasons. One was it had been 25 years since ‘Nine Sinatra Songs,' and I have set myself to some lessons in the meantime. I couldn't organize space then, the way I can now. I couldn't do counterpoint then, the way I can do now. I couldn't coach people dramatically then, the way I can do now. And to revisit that world with some of these tools that I've learned to develop - I'm challenged by that. I'm interested in it, as a sort of test for myself."

She continues, "Then, there is Proust," referring to the Marcel Proust novel, "In Seach of Lost Time," which pushed Tharp to reexamine the idea of "old haunts seeking enlightenment."

To read the full article from The Star Ledger, click here.

COME FLY AWAY played its sold-out, critically lauded world premiere engagement at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre this fall.

COME FLY AWAY follows four couples as they fall in and out of love during one song and dance filled evening at a crowded nightclub. Blending the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra with a live on stage 19-piece big band and 15 of the world's finest dancers, COME FLY AWAY weaves an unparalleled hit parade of classics, including "Fly Me To The Moon," "My Way," and "That's Life" into a soaring musical fantasy of romance and seduction.

The show's score combines classic and newly discovered vocal performances from the Sinatra archives along with signature arrangements (Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Quincy Jones) as well as brand new charts for this fresh innovative musical.

COME FLY AWAY is the next and most elaborate chapter in one of the most fruitful collaborations in contemporary dance. Twyla Tharp's creative relationship with the music of Frank Sinatra began in 1976 with the premiere of Once More Frank, a duet created for the American Ballet Theatre, performed by Ms. Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The collaboration continued with Nine Sinatra Songs, Ms. Tharp's acclaimed piece for fourteen dancers which had its world premiere with Twyla Tharp Dance in 1982, and was followed by Sinatra Suite, a duet featuring Mr. Baryshnikov and Elaine Kudo, which had its world premiere in 1984 with American Ballet Theatre at the Kennedy Center. Citing it as one of the purest expressions of his body of work, Mr. Sinatra requested that Sinatra Suite be performed when he received his Kennedy Center Honors Award.

Tickets, ranging in price from $66.50 - $126.50, can be purchased via www.TicketMaster.com or by calling 212-307-4100.

For groups of 20 or more, please contact Nederlander Group Sales at 212.840.3890 or 800.714.8452 www.nederlandergroupsales.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.