Seattle Theatre Group (STG) presents the Seattle premiere of THE RAT PACK IS BACK! at The Moore Theatre on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. Experience the ritz and allure of classic Vegas with this swinging party of a show! THE RAT PACK IS BACK! transports the audience back through time and space to a balmy night circa 1960 when four show business legends -- Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin -- converged at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas for the first time. These stars delivered style with substance, swing with swagger and a non-stop party to which everyone wanted access.
Sandy Hackett, son of legendary comedian
Buddy Hackett, is writer and producer of THE RAT PACK IS BACK! Even at a young age, Hackett was inspired to enter his father's world of comedy and worked hard to realize his dreams of success in show business. Making his performance debut at the tender age of 11, Hackett has entertained audiences with his talents for over three decades.
THE RAT PACK IS BACK! unites an accomplished group of actors from the Las Vegas circuit with stars Brian Duprey as
Frank Sinatra, Mickey Joseph as
Joey Bishop, Kenny Jones as
Sammy Davis, Jr. and
Drew Anthony as
Dean Martin.
BRIAN DUPREY (Appearing as
Frank Sinatra) You probably saw Brian Duprey on FOX TV's "Performing As." Brian won the first-place 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.
MICKEY JOSEPH (Appearing as
Joey Bishop) San Francisco Bay area native Mickey Joseph attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, CA. To put himself through school, Mickey worked at an Italian restaurant, where his tableside antics, celebrity impressions, and roll juggling caught the eye of his boss, who suggested he seek a career in show business (or any business other than his restaurant.) Mickey heeded his advice and entered the world of stand up comedy, moving to Hollywood where he joined an Improv group and began writing and performing his own act. He has since become a favorite in some of the most well known comedy clubs in the country. He is author of What Would Don Corleone Do? a humorous and touching book about his experiences in standup comedy and surviving as a single parent.
KENNY JONES (Appearing as
Sammy Davis, Jr.) Born and raised in Atchison, KS, Kenny's love of music began with his first stage appearance at the age of twelve with a local group called Jive Five. He later learned how to play the piano, bass guitar, and drums and was a member of The Jesus Children and then the Genetta Bradley Singers. In Denver, CO he continued his gospel career at The House of Joy where he cut his first gospel album and released his first single called "Peanut Butter and Jelly." In 1989 and 1990 Kenny was voted The Best Male Vocalist of the Year by the Gospel Music Workshop of Denver. Kenny served as the front man for bands such as Soul Review, Groove City as well as Denver's hottest R&B band, 1UP, which had the honor of performing at the opening of The Hard Rock Café in Shanghai, China. Since 2004, Kenny has and continues to appear in showrooms, theaters as well as corporate and private engagements paying tribute to the ultimate entertainer Mr. Showmanship:
Sammy Davis, Jr. in The Rat Pack is Back!
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 is entitled "You Don't Know Me," which 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.
In THE RAT PACK IS BACK!, the voice of God (actually a recording of the late
Buddy Hackett) urges Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean to go back and do it "just one more time." What ensues is an uncanny recreation of one of the Rat Pack's raucous, antic-filled performances, featuring Bishop's hilarious comedy and performances of such standards as Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young," "A Foggy Day," Martin's "That's Amoré" and Davis' "Mr. Bojangles." Backing the singers is swinging 12-piece live orchestra performing period perfect orchestrations.
"THE RAT PACK IS BACK! recreates what one of those nights at the Sands might have been like, while also showcasing a few of the Rat Pack's biggest hits from later in their careers," says Hackett. "The actors in the show have spent countless hours diligently studying the people they portray."
THE RAT PACK IS BACK! is co-produced by Dick Feeney (Viva Las Vegas, Showgirls, The Great Gleason).
Tickets: THE RAT PACK IS BACK! is Thursday, October 15 at 8:00pm at Seattle's Moore Theatre. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 11 and are $35.00 - $47.50. Purchase ticket online at www.stgpresents.org, by phone at (877)STG-4TIX or (877)784-4849, in person at The Paramount Theatre box office, Monday through Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm and The Paramount and Moore Theatre venue kiosks, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. For group sales, call (866)798-7469. The Moore Theatre is located at 1932 Second Ave in downtown Seattle.
About Seattle Theatre Group: Seattle Theatre Group is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization that operates the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres in Seattle, Washington. Our mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of our region's cultural identity while keeping these two landmark venues alive and vibrant. STG presents a range of performances from Broadway, off-Broadway, dance and jazz to comedy, concerts of all genres, speakers and family shows - at both historic theatres in Seattle and venues throughout the Puget Sound and Portland, Oregon.
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