The popular musical, "Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show," now in its tenth season, announced a Florida run as part of its U.S. Theatre Season Tour, a new cast recording release and a February launch for its extensive new website. The theatrical production stars Sandy Hackett, son of the illustrious comedian Buddy Hackett, and his wife, Lisa Dawn Miller, daughter of legendary songwriter, Ron Miller. The two produce the show under their jointly-led Production Company, Hackett Miller.
"We always love performing in Florida. We've toured throughout the state numerous times and the audiences really understand the difference between our show and the countless 'tribute-type' of productions out there," Hackett said. "I grew up with the members of the Rat Pack. These were my father's lifelong friends - his pals, his cronies," Hackett continued. "This isn't me going out and doing research about strangers. This is me doing a show about my friends and my father's friends."
"It's a labor of love - for me and my wife," Hackett continued. Lisa has her own connection. Every singing member of the Rat Pack recorded and performed her father's classic standard, 'For Once in My Life' and my wife brings her musical genius to the show, both as a creator and performer, which really sets our show apart from anything else out there. The Florida audiences really know the difference," Hackett said.
"Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show," which has stacked up rave reviews over the years is a theatrical, musical production which recreates what it would have been like to see legendary icons, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop live onstage together. "God sends the Rat Pack to do one last show. They arrive in their prime but they are sent back to modern day so we get to weave current events into show," said Miller who plays "Frank's One Love," a character based on Sinatra's relationship with Ava Gardner. "Sandy's father, Buddy Hackett, plays God. We recorded his voiceovers before he passed. Even though this is a book show, there is a lot of room for improv because that's how it was with the real Rat Pack. Sandy is brilliant as Joey Bishop and is the comedy genius that has made our show so successful."
Fresh off its holiday tour with performances at Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway, Ark.; the Valentine Theatre in Toledo, Ohio; Flagler Auditorium in Bunnell, Fla. and; the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., "Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show" will perform in Long Island, N.Y. at the Tilles Center(March 2) before kicking-off its Florida run in Orange Park, Fla. at Thrasher-Horne Center (March 22). From there, the show performs at the Seminole Theatre (March 23) in Homestead, Fla.; the Coral Springs Center for the Arts(March 24) in Coral Springs, Fla.; the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall(March 25) in Fort Myers, Fla.; The Olive Grove (March 26 and 27) in Brooksville, Fla.; and the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts(March 25) in Melbourne, Fla.
Other performances for the show's nationwide run include performances in Bartlett, Tenn. at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center (March 30); Bristol, Pa. at the Bristol Riverside Theatre (April 5); Newport, Ark. at the Arkansas State University (April 23); and Ruston, La. at Howard Auditorium, Louisiana Tech University (May 2).
The show is also getting ready to release a new cast recording, produced by Miller - an EP collection of fan favorites. A new website launch scheduled for February 2019 was also announced. The new site will include new tour dates, multimedia for fans, an archival section, downloadable media for the show's presenters and never-before-seen photos and behind-the-scenes footage of the show.
Sandy, who just completed a book about his father, "My Buddy," to be released in February 2019, tours nationwide as a comedian and with his one-man show of the same name (directed by Miller), a live theatrical production about his close relationship with his dad and the ten years they spent touring together.
Lisa, a producer and singer/songwriter, is developing a new show, "For Once in My Life," about the life of her father whose hits include "Touch Me in the Morning," "A Place in the Sun," "Heaven Help Us All," "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday," "If I Could," "I've Never Been to Me," "Someday at Christmas," "Everyone's a Kid at Christmas Time" and many more. She has released several recordings and directed numerous music videos. She also heads up her own music publishing company, LDM Publishing; manages her father's vast legacy catalogue; tours throughout the country and manages the careers of her children, 18-year-old actor/singer, Oliver Richman and 13-year-old actor/singer/dancer, Ashleigh Hackett.
For the latest news, visit sandysratpack.com
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