On the anniversary of Hollywood legend Ava Gardner’s death, she lived again in the form of Elizabeth McGovern, whose play AVA: The Secret Conversations has now opened at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios.
‘Elizabeth McGovern captures the mercurial complexities of Ava Gardner’: AVA: THE SECRET CONVERSATIONS – Riverside Studios
Beautiful, sexy and luminous are words most associated with Hollywood starlets of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, and indeed they were, but they were also talented and savvy movie actors who commanded the screen.
WATCH: What was Frank Sinatra thinking on the eve of retirement?
After Rat Pack Confidential and Sinatra and Me, Richard Shelton wanted to take a new look at the life of Frank Sinatra, on the eve of his (short-lived) retirement. Terri Paddock chaired a Sinatra: Raw post-show talk.
‘Not to be missed’: SINATRA: RAW – Wilton’s Music Hall ★★★★
No wonder Richard Shelton received an Offie Award nomination for Best Male Performance – his portrayal of the legend that is Frank Sinatra in Sinatra: Raw is real, natural, emotional and warms you up inside listening to him sing.
New post-show Q&A: Join Terri for an evening with Ol’ Blue Eyes at Sinatra: Raw
After the opening performance of Sinatra: Raw at Wilton’s Music Hall on Tuesday 22 October 2019, I’ll be joined by Richard Shelton to discuss his journey with the show and Frank Sinatra’s legacy. Any questions? Join us!
‘A mesmerising & fascinating show’: SINATRA RAW – Live at Zedel
Richard Shelton’s insightful and entertaining show Sinatra Raw successfully captures the many different elements of Frank Sinatra’s life.
‘Ol’ Blue Eyes could be right there with you’: SINATRA RAW – Live at Zedel ★★★★
Transferring to the capital from a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, Richard Shelton’s tribute to Frank Sinatra makes for a fabulous evening.
INTERVIEW: Richard Shelton continues to follows his dreams by taking his new play Sinatra: Raw to the Edinburgh Fringe
‘If you never dream – then you can never have a dream come true.” This is something that Richard Shelton firmly believes in. We sat down to have a chat about just that and Richard’s new show Sinatra: Raw.
THE RAT PACK LIVE – West End ★★★
Through the smooth tones of Frank Sinatra, the audience are swept back to The Sands Hotel, Las Vegas during the height of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra’s success.
‘Gives a real taste of what it would’ve been like to see Frank, Dean & Sammy’: RAT PACK LIVE – Theatre Royal Haymarket ❤❤❤❤
This entertaining and lively show gives audiences a real taste of what it would have been like to see The Rat Pack performing live.
‘Gives a real taste of what it would’ve been like to see Frank, Dean & Sammy’: RAT PACK LIVE – Theatre Royal Haymarket ❤❤❤❤
This entertaining and lively show gives audiences a real taste of what it would have been like to see The Rat Pack performing live.
‘The evening belongs to Garrett Phillips as Frank Sinatra’: RAT PACK LIVE – West End ★★★1/2
Seeing is believing, isn’t that what “they” say? Well, I’d certainly agree when it comes to the performance of Garrett Phillips as Frank Sinatra. Every characteristic of old blue eyes is there and the sound is phenomenal. It really is uncanny, a truly astonishing performance.
NEWS: ‘Ella Fitzgerald’ joins for The Rat Pack’s West End return, Full cast announced
Final casting has been announced for the West End return of The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas, which starts performances on 13 December 2017 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, home to its first West End run in 2003.
BILLIE & ME: PATTI BOULAYE LIVE – Zedel ★★★★
It’s nigh on forty years since this reviewer first clapped eyes on Patti Boulaye. Her braided hair in tight plaits, Boulaye lit up our TV screens on a Saturday evening.
THE RAT PACK – Birmingham
The Rat Pack is of course formed of Frank Sinatra (David Alacey), Sammy Davis Junior (Des Coleman) and Dean Martin (Paul Drakeley) and a tribute show to the popular late trio wouldn’t be a tribute show without a big band. In this case the three extremely versatile performers were backed by the Buddy Greco Orchestra who were phenomenal.
INTERVIEW: Spotlight On… His Way’s Robert Habermann
Award winning singer Robert Habermann brings the highly acclaimed His Way to Barking on Friday 24th February. His Way tells the whole unexpurgated story of the rise and fall of Frank Sinatra with many of Sinatra’s wonderful songs.
YEARS OF SUNLIGHT – Theatre 503
The story starts in 2009 with Paul, a fortysomething professional who works in computing, returning to his home town, Skelmersdale, a 1960s overspill from Liverpool. Now living in Dublin, he’s come to see his mother, Hazel, who migrated to Britain from Ireland because she was an unmarried mother.
YEARS OF SUNLIGHT – Theatre 503
New play about two friends who grow up together is well structured, if a bit slender.
NEWS: New musical on life and career of Frank Sinatra premieres in 2018
The Ambassador Theatre Group is to produce a brand new stage musical based on the life of the legendary Frank Sinatra, in partnership with Stewart Till and Frank Sinatra Enterprises. The show, which is planned to open in 2018, will feature a number of timeless hit songs from Sinatra’s incredible catalogue of over 1400 tracks recorded during his illustrious career. Script development for the Frank Sinatra musical is planned to start shortly.
GUYS & DOLLS – Touring
Made popular by the MGM 1955 film starring Marlon Brandon, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine this show is undoubtedly in my top three all time favourite shows. Consequently I’ve seen many stage versions and some with equal star billing as the motion picture which started my love affair with it. So did this fresh touring company live up to my high expectations?