The tribute show comes to downtown Springfield on Feb. 16.
SANDY HACKETT (Joey Bishop), TONY BASILE (Dean Martin), DAVID DECOSTA (Frank Sinatra) and DOUG STARKS (Sammy Davis, Jr.) of SANDY HACKETTâS RAT PACK SHOW
You don’t have to wait for a casino to open in Springfield to relish in some true Las Vegas-style entertainment.
Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop – Vegas favorites in the ’50s and ’60s for their cool, casual manner on stage as they sang, joked, smoked and drank their way through performances for adoring audiences – will bring their show, sort of, to Symphony Hall on Feb. 16.
Since The Rat Packers are all deceased now, they’ll be brought back to life on stage by Sandy Hackett, son of the late, legendary comedian Buddy Hackett, who will play Bishop; Hackett’s wife, Lisa Dawn Miller, singer/songwriter/producer and daughter of Ron Miller, who will portray Sinatra’s “one true love;” David DeCosta as Sinatra; Louie Velez as Davis; and Tom Wellek as Martin.
Saturday’s performance of “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show” is about as true a representation of the glory days of The Rat Pack as you can get, with a few liberties.
It’s authenticity stems from Hackett’s own personal connection to these iconic legends, especially his “Uncle Joey” Bishop who gave his blessings and support to the show – allowing Hackett to tell his uniquely own story unlike any other producer or performer.
“Joey called me about 14 years ago concerning a Rat Pack movie that was being made and he thought I would be perfect to play him. I said to him, ‘Wow, Uncle Joey, I would love to play you, who do I call?’ His answer was to tell me that no one called him, not even the courtesy of a phone call to the last living member of the Rat Pack,” said Hackett.
“Come to find out, the role was already cast and the movie was more about the relationship between Frank and John F. Kennedy. But, it set me on a course to play Uncle Joey and fulfill his thought that I was the right guy to portray him,” said Hackett.
“The Rat Pack became popular back in 1960 when for 30 days they would film the movie ‘Ocean’s 11’ by day in Las Vegas and then by night get up on stage together to perform,” he said about their short but extremely popular run in the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino.
As for the “liberties” Hackett took in writing the show, he said they were made to make the show more appealing to a contemporary audience.
“The audience will learn during the show that The Rat Pack in their prime are being sent through time into modern day. Now you have these guys watching television and knowing what is on the news today, so that everything they talk or joke about is topical,” said Hackett.
Audiences will also hear original, never-before-heard songs written by the late, legendary songwriter, Ron Miller who wrote “For Once In My Life,” alongside recorded voiceovers made exclusively for the new show by Hackett’s father.
The special performance – direct from its home at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino – is presented by Springfield Performing Arts Development Corporation (SPADC) in honor of 15 years of CityStage & Symphony Hall and the commemoration of the 100th birthday of Symphony Hall.
“The fact that they chose us to be the entertainment for the special night says a lot about our production and its quality. We’ll be celebrating the evening by going back to a show that was really hot in its day. We’re honored to be entertaining folks in Springfield and we plan on giving them a great show,” said Hackett.
Hackett will also be bringing his musical team along for the show including Maestro Christopher Hardin and conductor/drummer, Ryan Rose.