MEMORIES OF THE RAT PACK

RAT PACK TRIBUTE

Genre: Tribute Band

Based in: USA

Memories of The RAT PACK

A Live Musical Tribute To

FRANK SINATRA, DEAN MARTIN, and SAMMY DAVIS Jr.

MEMORIES OF THE RAT PACK is a celebration of the lives and music of the three most famous members of The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. In two 50 minute acts divided by one intermission, we learn about the men behind the legend, enjoy 30 of their more popular songs, and experience a recreation of the famous night club act at The Sands HotelLas Vegas. in

Act One opens with an ensemble rendition of Sinatra’s Witchcraft, followed by a brief explanation of the birth of The Rat Pack. We are then treated to Frank Sinatra singing I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and I’ve Got The World On A String, and we learn about Sinatra’s roots on the streets of Hoboken, New Jersey, as well his special crooning style and popularity with the ladies.

Dean Martin then sings You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You, and That’s Amore, and we learn about his younger days in Ohio, his early boxing career, and his minor success on the New York club circuit.

We are then introduced to Sammy Davis Jr. who sings You Can’t Take That Away From Me, Mr. Bojangles, and Black Magic. We learn that Sammy Davis Jr. is considered the greatest entertainer of all time. The consummate variety artist, he was a singer, an actor, a dancer, and a musician.

The first act then turns its attention to the success of The Rat Pack and their infamous “Summit at the Sands” in 1960, when they went to Vegas to shoot scenes for Ocean’s Eleven, while simultaneously playing The Sands Hotel and Casino at night. The ensemble sing the number one single of 1964, Dean Martin’s Everybody Loves Somebody.  Their important contribution to putting an end to racial segregation in the United States is recognized, and their endorsement of John F. Kennedy is remembered in a rendition of High Hopes, which they performed in the Democratic Convention in Beverly Hills in 1960. 

After a brief intermission, we are transported to The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. “Direct from the bar,” Dean Martin appears on stage, decked out in tuxedo, with cigarette and scotch in hand. He sings humorous renditions of When You’re Drinkin’ (When You’re Smilin’), and I Left My Heart In San Francisco, and he finishes his set with a soulful, authentic version of Volare before clearing the stage for “The Chairman of the Board.”

Frank Sinatra enters during the explosive horn introduction of Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week, and after singing the song, has some fun with the audience. Sinatra then sings an upbeat medley consisting of You Make Me Feel So Young, Come Fly With Me, Young At Heart, and Fly Me To The Moon. 

Sammy Davis Jr.  is next up, and he sings Strangers In The Night as well as his first number one hit, What Kind Of Fool Am I. He then launches into Funny That Way, but before he gets very far, the kibitzing starts as Sinatra and Martin begin heckling their friend from backstage. Sammy then tries another tune, Hey There, and this time, Sinatra and Martin appear on stage in grass skirts dancing the hula.

From this point on, the famed nightclub act from Las Vegas is in full swing, as the three friends carry on with   their crazy antics and sing such classic songs as Brazil, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Too Marvelous For Words, Pennies From Heaven, and Foggy Day. This is followed by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. performing Me And My Shadow, complete with their famous soft shoe routine. This builds to a climactic ending, and the three stars finish the night with an exciting ensemble version of The Lady Is A Tramp, which is followed by a thrilling encore performance of Mack The Knife.

DEREK MARSHALL

(Dean Martin)

Derek Marshall grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, and was educated at Dalhousie University and Sheridan College.  He has been seen and heard in numerous commercials for television and radio, and has performed throughout Canada, the U.S.A. and Germany in many theatrical productions.  Since 2002 Derek has worked with directors Chris McHarge and Colin Stewart on portrayals of Dean Martin and Hank Williams, and their latest collaboration, Vegas Knights, a tribute to the greatest crooners of 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Las Vegas which is set to play in Ontario theatres in the Summer and Fall of 2006.  Derek recently completed and released his first solo CD, The Best Is Yet To Come, and is currently on tour in support of this project.  

SHANE PHILIPS

(Sammy Davis Jr.)

Shane is a veteran of the stage with performances at venues such as The Montreal Funk ‘N’ Soul Festival, The Toronto Jazz Festival, Canadian Music Week and the North by North East Festival. His career has also expanded to musical theatre in which Philips has been cast a lead role in a musical review entitled DooWop to Motown and performs as Sammy Davis Jr. in the hit musical Memories of The Rat Pack currently touring Canada and Germany. Based out of Fergus, Ontario, Philips has played with many accomplished musicians both local and worldwide. He is currently touring with Montreal’s finest to create a sound both soulful and inspiring, and his music is currently playing on the Lifetime Network Shane Philips’ style reaches back to an era when soul music was truly soul. Strongly influenced by Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, Philips has reinvented the “old school”. It’s hard not to recognize the emotion and timelessness of Philips’ music and live shows.

PETER WINDREM

(Frank Sinatra)

Peter has been performing for nearly twenty years on the stage (Shaw Festival, Lighthouse Theatre, various venues with Memories of the Rat Pack including Dortmund Germany), in film (Perfectly Normal, Net Worth), television (Canada History Project, Sue Thomas F. B. EYE), commercials and in clubs all over the Ontario.  He is also a singer/songwriter and has recently tried his hand at directing for the theatre.  He now mostly does voiceover work for television and radio and writes music that he's hoping to get out to the public very soon.

COLIN STEWART
(Co-Creator/Musical Director/String Bass)
Colin has worked as a professional musician for over 27 years, and has worked in professional theatre as a Musical Director, Band Leader and Musician for more than 15 years. Having performed in clubs and theatres throughout Canada, and on Carnival Cruise Lines around the world, Colin has worked with such blues artists as John Ellison, The McAuley Boys, Dutch Mason, Chicago Pete, Ellen McIlwaine and Phil Guy. Colin’s musical theatre credits include West Side Story, Annie, The Pajama Game, Oliver, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, Anne of Green Gables, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. As Musical Director, Colin’s credits include Fire, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, 18 Wheels, Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and the world premieres of Lovin’, Lyin’ and Leavin’ and Canadian Café. Colin has been touring extensively with his live musical tribute shows, Memories of the Rat Pack, DooWop to Motown, Memories of Hank Williams & Patsy Cline, and Impressions of the Moulin Rouge, which he co-created with Chris McHarge, and which have played to capacity crowds throughout Canada and in Europe.  In 2005, Colin and Chris are creating two new tribute shows: Heaven’s Little Honky Tonk (for Port Stanley Festival Theatre in May, and for Lighthouse Festival Theatre in August); as well as Vegas Knights (which Colin and Chris are creating in collaboration with Derek Marshall for the Gryphon Theatre in July).

CHRIS McHARGE

(Co-Creator, Director)

Chris has been directing in Canada for more than 20 years, and is the Artistic Director of Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover, as well as the former Artistic and Executive Director of Theatre on the Grand in Fergus, Ontario, and a former Artistic Associate at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton. Chris has worked throughout Canada, in Europe and the United States. He has directed over 60 productions including more than 20 world premieres and two Ontario premieres. Chris is best known for his work in new play development with established and emerging playwrights. For Lighthouse last season, Chris directed the world premiere of Norm Foster’s new musical Sitting Pretty,co-written with Steve Thomas, as well as Foster’s The Love List and Stephen Massicotte’s award-winning drama Mary’s Wedding, Chris has been nominated for a number of awards including the Eleanor and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre (2001 & 2004), the Canada Council John Hirsch Award, and the Pauline McGibbon Award for directing.  Chris is most proud of his roles as partner to wife Kathryn, and Dad to thiteen-year-old Caitlyn, eight-year-old Erin and five-year-old Quinlan

ELLEN IRMISCH

(Choreographer)

Ellen has been performing since she was very young on numerous theatre, television and film projects. Her credits include: Stratford Festival’s Carousel, Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause, and Much Ado About Nothing at the Ontario Renaissance Festival. With her brother Ian, she co-directs the Tartan Terrors, a Scottish comedy dance troupe that has toured internationally for seven years. Between shows she runs Sundance Studios, a dance, drama and vocal school. Her choreography credits include: Hello Dolly, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Memories of the Rat Pack, DooWop to Motown, and Dickens, Tucketts ‘n Cider, and the world premiere of Sitting Pretty. Ellen would like to thank Chris and Colin for the opportunity to work with such a great team of artists.

  VIDEOS

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