Displaying items by tag: My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra
Theater at the Center’s “My Way” A Delicious Homage to the Great Frank Sinatra
Tribute shows are generally as good as the performers that star. I probably just stated the most obvious fact on the planet. Yet it’s so very true. No matter how good the song selection, the costumes, the set, it is the vocal performance that we bring home with us. In “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” a different taste of Sinatra is delivered; rather than presenting an Ol’ Blue Eyes impersonator, we are invited to a 1960’s club setting where four actors casually reminisce with the audience over more than fifty Sinatra favorites.
The musical revue, rich in its depicted era, stars George Keating, Christine Mild, Eric A. Lewis and McKinley Carter, each taking turns riffing through classics like “Makin’ Whoopee”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “The Best is Yet to Come”, “Young at Heart”, and “It was a Very Good Year” – the songs are countless. The four have made their mark in the Chicago theatre scene, Lewis a Jeff Award Winner for his work in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Dreamgirls”, Mild, who not only starred in Theater at the Center’s “Pump Boys and Dinettes” but who has recently released her debut solo album “Love Is Everything”, Carter, who has done work in prestigious venues such as Writers Theatre and Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Keating, who not only has been featured in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at Paramount Theater, but is the co-founder of the very popular Chicago and Off-Broadway hit “Schoolhouse Rock Live”.
The four actors work well together as snippets of Sinatra songs are often worked into light exchanges between the characters. They gracefully glide around the stage and upon the stairways often pairing elegantly for dance routines. Often, the characters might be seen having a drink at the bar or nonchalantly interacting at a table, setting a relaxed night-out-on-the-town mood. Throughout the show, Sinatra factoids and quotes are tossed about during song breaks, allowing at times for the audience to participate. The club centers around a bar, where a live band simplified to piano (William Underwood), bass (Jake Saleh) and drums (Nick Anderson) plays directly behind it. Despite the small size of the outfit, the sound is big and the musicians ever-impressive, each getting to show their skills off a bit while briefly featured individually in the second act.
While perhaps wishing for a little more "oomph" overall in the individual vocal performances (mainly on the lower notes) ala Sinatra, each of the performers have their shining moments and are able to deliver the songs with their intended pizzazz and vigor. But the magic in this show is when the four would sing together, whether it be a duet or a four-part harmony. It is with these synchronized vocal efforts one easily loses themselves in the beauty of Sinatra’s work.
Brenda Didier both directs and choreographs this fascinating piece with a stylish aplomb that captures the charm of the period so very well. Lewis particularly stands out during his renditions of “My Kind of Town” and “I’m Gonna Live ‘Til I Die”, while Keating finishes strong with a fervent version of “That’s Life”. The production flows at a nice pace and is a pleasing homage to Sinatra, though we are often teased with a song segment left wanting to hear the piece in its entirety. This is countered by the fact that we are given such a vast collection of the music Sinatra made famous. The show ties together well eventually leading us to an expressive interpretation of perhaps Sinatra’s most timeless classic, “My Way”, commendably performed by the entire cast.
“My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” is a time capsule that will certainly touch the hearts of “Chairman of the Board” fans, but is equipped with enough nostalgia, panache and musical talent to please even the most curious. This polished production is being performed at Theater at the Center in Munster, IN through March 19th. Click here for tickets and/or more show information.
The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns
10 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreObliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4,…
Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere
10 March 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn…
Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago
10 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreStand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL…
Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'
09 March 2025 in Theatre in ReviewFollowing a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener,…
Auditorium Theatre’s Presentation of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company Soars and Astounds
08 March 2025 in Dance in ReviewTwo dancers stand center stage. The traditional, spiritual music begins to play as they start to move. Very much in…
"HENRY JOHNSON," DAVID MAMET'S NEWEST PLAY, TO MAKE ITS CHICAGO PREMIERE AT VICTORY GARDENS THEATER APRIL 8 – MAY 4
07 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreVictory Gardens Theater, in association with Relentless Theatre Group, will present the Midwest premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winner,…
Citadel’s I and You Delivers a Dynamite Story that Closes with a Knockout
01 March 2025 in Theatre in ReviewProlific, and routinely recognized as being one of the most produced playwrights in the country, Lauren Gunderson’s range is as…
Review: Titus Andronicus at Redtwist Theatre
26 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo not bring the kids to TITUS ANDRONICUS; it has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members,…
See Chicago Dances Launches New Website March 10
26 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceSee Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the…
HELL'S KITCHEN is Coming to Chicago
26 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreGet ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to…
Court Theatre announces casting for the world premiere of Berlin
25 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreUnder the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi…
Ryan Opera Center celebrates 50th anniversary in concert, Apr 25
24 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago's renowned artist-development program, will present its annual…
The Joffrey Ballet Announces 2025-26 Season at Lyric Opera House
24 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceAshley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at…
Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…
Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…
RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st
20 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…
'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre
20 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…
Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreRivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…
Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…
Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23
18 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…
Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025
18 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreAvalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…
Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…
A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…
Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!
16 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…
Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit
16 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreNorthlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon
15 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation
15 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBeautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…
Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower
12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…
Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLove is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…
Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLike the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…
Latest Articles
-
Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere
Written by Buzz Center StageThe Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn Sanders-Ward (‘02)’s new staging of Written on the Flesh and a premiere by Bebe Miller—commissioned and set on Red Clay Dance Company dancers including… -
The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns
Written by Buzz Center StageObliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4, 2025, at The Revival Theater, 906 S Wabash Ave in Chicago. Obliteration is a fusion of stand-up comedy and theater that tells…
-
Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago
Written by Buzz Center StageStand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL Alum Katie Rich, is planned for Thursday, March 27 at 7:30pm at Laugh Factory Chicago, 3175 N Broadway. Comedians Pat McGann, Katie Rich, Megan…
-
Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'
Written by Kimberly KatzFollowing a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener, Guys and Dolls. This delightful production is currently wowing audiences at the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.