With a talented cast and 15-piece orchestra, take a trip back to the glamorous, hot, glitzy nights of Las Vegas. And their recordings still constantly chart high throughout the world. Frank, Sammy and Dean all received critical acclaim quite late in their careers and it wasn't until the late ‘50s and early ‘60s that they stormed the world and stayed at the top. Their unique contribution to 20th century popular music is second to none. Legends of the 20th century, idols of the music industry, superstars of the movies, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Dean Martin are above all renowned worldwide for their talented voices. Frank, Sammy and Dean, all singing, all dancing, all-round entertainers, injected not only their songs into the ‘50s and ‘60s, but a lifestyle that everyone wanted. Drift back to a glamorous era where the famous rubbed shoulders with the politicians and partied hard. This spectacular festive production celebrates the incredible singing talent of three world famous entertainers and performers and some of the finest music and songs that has ever been recorded. “In our show, God sends them back to do one more show, modern-day in their prime.After numerous critically acclaimed national tours since 2000 and FOUR years in London's West End, "Christmas with the Rat Pack" really is the coolest party in town! ““It’s very easy to keep this show fresh,” Hackett says. Hackett pays homage to his dad’s pals by bringing the Rat Pack characters to life on stage in today’s world, where no topic is off limits as long as it’s happening now and “appropriate for the show,” and everything flies unscripted by the seat of the pants. The last time Hackett and Miller brought the “Rat Pack Show” to South Bend, in 2012, the Sandusky scandal dominated the news and Hackett’s Joey Bishop character had a field day on the former Penn State football coach who was sent to prison for sexually abusing young boys.īut Jerry Sandusky is old news. “I don’t have anything new planned until I get there and Jerry Sandusky reveals himself,” Hackett says wryly. “And we have a lot of Christmas songs,” Miller says, listing, among others, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and a Christmas medley that will be unwrapped onstage. “Mack the Knife,” “My Way,” “Amore” and even Davis’ “Candy Man” all receive resurrections. “Our ‘Christmas’ tour starts in South Bend, and (Thursday) is the first time these songs will ever be heard.”Īlso expect Frank, Dean and the boys to break out “a lot of the favorites they recorded individually,” Miller says. “We’re actually premiering them for the show,” Miller says. Her songwriting will be in the spotlight at the Morris with two original Christmas songs - “It’s Christmas” and “My Favorite Time of the Year,” both co-written by Miller and songwriter/producer Mark Matson - set to make their debut. Her father, Ron Miller, was a prolific songwriter for Motown during the ’60s and wrote, among a slew of hits, the Stevie Wonder classic “For Once In My Life.” “The magic of the Rat Pack was that you never knew what would happen when they were onstage together,” Miller says.Ī singer-songwriter and the show’s producer, she also carries a Hollywood bloodline. Sandy Hackett’s wife, Lisa Dawn Miller, rounds out the cast as Ava Gardner. The show features Hackett, the son of ’60s comic and Rat Pack associate Buddy Hackett, playing the comic he grew up knowing as “Uncle Joey” Bishop, along with Angelo Babbaro as Sinatra, Kenny Jones as Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Wallek as Dean Martin as the most electrifying quartet of entertainers to set foot on a Las Vegas stage. “I’ll make sure he gets it,” Hackett says by phone from his home in Los Angeles about two weeks before the launch of this year’s “Rat Pack Christmas.” Thursday’s show at the Morris kicks off the tour, a dual-celebration of Christmas and Sinatra’s 100th birthday. Specifically, a motorcyle or high-definition television are high up on Hackett’s wish list of gifts for Sinatra, who died May 14, 1998, at age 82 and isn’t likely to unwrap any of his centennial presents himself. 12 would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday.Īnd with a slight hint that his tongue is planted in his cheek, Sandy Hackett wants people to bring Ol’ Blue Eyes a birthday present when they attend his “Rat Pack Christmas” show Thursday at the Morris Performing Arts Center.