Sinatra: The Musical is a biographical jukebox musical written by Joe DiPietro based on the life and music of Frank Sinatra. It premiered at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in September 2023.
Production history
World premiere: Birmingham, UK (2023) The musical's premiere was at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where it had a limited run from 23 September 2023 to 28 October. The production was directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, and produced by the Birmingham Rep in association with Universal Music Group Theatrical and Frank Sinatra Enterprises. Tony-Award winning actor Matt Doyle starred as Frank Sinatra, with Ana Villafañe playing Ava Gardner, and Phoebe Panaretos as Frank Sinatra's first wife, Nancy Sinatra.
New York industry reading (2024) Following the Birmingham run, the musical had an invitation-only reading at the Apollo Theater in New York City on November 21, 2024 with the full orchestra. The cast featured Doyle, Villafañe and Panaretos reprising their roles as Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner and Nancy Sinatra joined by Caroline Duffy Concannon as Little Nancy, Toni Di Buono as Dolly Sinatra, Mark Lotito as Marty Sinatra, and Brad Oscar as George Evans. The ensemble also featured David Abeles, Clyde Alves, Amber Ardolino, E. Clayton Cornelious, Stephen DeRosa, Donna English, Matthew Griffin, Nathan Lucrezio, Katerina McCrimmon, Morgan McGhee, Angel Reda, and Maya Lynn Sistruck.
London's West End (2026) The Birmingham production opened in London's West End at the Aldwych Theatre with previews beginning 3 June 2026 (with a press night on 24 June), booking until April 2027. Joel Harper-Jackson was cast as Frank Sinatra, joined by Villafañe as Ava Gardner and Panaretos as Nancy Sinatra. Jenna Russell joins as Dolly Sinatra.
Cast and characters +CharacterBirminghamWest End20232026Frank SinatraMatt DoyleJoel Harper-JacksonAva GardnerAna VillafañeNancy SinatraPhoebe PanaretosMarlene DietrichMaddy AmbusAllana TaylorGene KellyGreg BernsteinAdam DavidsonDolly SinatraDawn BucklandJenna RussellHedda HopperHelen ColbyJudy GarlandFrances DeeJenna InnesNelson RiddleAlex Gibson GiorgioSam Brown Billie HolidayRyesha HiggsMelissa NettlefordLee MortimerStevie HutchinsonCarl AuNat King ColeTyler Orphé-BakerOliver Adam-ReynoldsGeorge EvansCarl PatrickLee ZarrettLana TurnerLottie PowerBecky AndersonMarty SinatraVincent RiottaMarty MaguireSammy Davis, Jr.SpinMitch Miller / Harry CohnJohn StaceyLittle NancyAmelia Katie ConnorEffie GellIsla GranvilleSylvie ReganMia SavidentFelicity WaltonEnsembleSamara CastealloAlastair CrosswellMia MusakembevaSamuel NicholasSwingLindsay AthertonEmma CrossleyAlexander DayChristopher GopaulStuart HickeyNardia RuthChristina Shand
References