Sinatra musical in development from DiPietro and Marshall

Universal Music Group Theatrical in association with Tina Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Enterprises announced SINATRA THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the life and career of the legendary artist Frank Sinatra.

Currently in development, the script is being written by two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro and will be directed and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall. Michele Anthony, Bruce Resnikoff and Scott Landis will serve as producers for Universal Music Group Theatrical, with Tina Sinatra and Charles Pignone serving as producers on behalf of Frank Sinatra Enterprises.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SINATRA-THE-MUSICAL-In-Development-Featuring-Book-by-Joe-DiPietro-Direction-by-Kathleen-Marshall-20221130

Scott Landis and Kathleen Marshall are married, and they're close friends/collaborators with Joe D. That pretty much explains it all.

KevinKlawitter said: "While Sinatra certainly had more drama in his life compared to, say, Neil Diamond, I wonder how many of his edges will have to be sanded down to get the approval of the estate."

HA! Who are we kidding? I’ll put $500 on this being just as sanitized as Chaplin was (a show I loved for the score and Rob McClure alone). It’ll be framed so that we focus on his struggles and obstacles, none of the same that he created for others. 

The music label and his estate are jumping on the bandwagon of jukebox musicals. It’s as simple as that.

I’ll admit, I’m a full Diana stan and defender, but this does not excite me.

"I’m sure Joe DiPietro has done a lot of projects that I’m not aware of, but FWIW, in the 12-or-so years that I’ve known his name I haven’t heard of a single project he’s worked on that was actually good. It’s baffling to me that even his friends would continue to hire him. "

He is living off his one success which is "Memphis". Show won the Tony award for "Best Musical" and did recoup its investment. 

I wonder how cleaned up it’ll be; Sinatra’s estate profits off the myth of the man, and Sinatra’s myth (like the Four Seasons) trades on his neuroses, his hot temper, his love of rubbing shoulders with the criminal element. 
 

Are we going to see him sexually assault Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland? I’m betting on “no,” but those are also so up-in-the-air that his definitive biographer isn’t entirely sure whether they happened or not. But I’d be shocked if we don’t see at least SOME mob stuff.

Matt Doyle posted a couple short clips to his Instagram story yesterday of him singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “I’ve Got The World On A String” at what looked like their sitzprobe, and he sounded wonderful. He sounds enough like Sinatra to suit the style; but Doyle himself has a much cleaner, brighter tone to his voice. He sounds a lot different from anything he’s performed before, so I would be curious to see this, if only to hear him interpret those songs.

His plan is to stay with Sinatra. Here’s a video of bows and the NY, NY finale. If that’s their finale, I’m sure everyone’s hearts are set on Broadway: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxjOh1_P_k-/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Anyone seen this in early previews?

I’ll reserve judgement till I see it but I can’t say I'm sold on this from the sitzprobe clips. And I do worry about how sanded down the story will be. He had a fascinating life story and was a severely complicated man. There’s a reason why Scorsese and others have dropped their plans for biopics, because the estates would not allow them to be Frank enough."

His daughter is heavily involved in the production so it will be just an hagiography of the man

Two reviews by audience members on theatreboard. Raves for Doyle as Sinatra. Not for the show.  They say the show is a bit dull - too  snippets of songs - not a lot of conflict or drama. In other words, a standard bio-musical by people who have an interest in presenting a positive characterization. It doesn't sound like there is any specail staging. Sounds like the joke about Jersey Boys: "We did a song. it was a hit and we wuz happy. Then we did another song and it wasn't a hit and we wuz sad. Then we did another song and it was a hit. [repeat]"

But, that is only the view of two posters.  

I implore people to stop making cradle to grave bio musicals/biopics. Stick to a single event or period in someone’s life and go deeper.

But this also feels like something that could bypass Broadway and make a killing. They could get 100 touring weeks out of it and then license it. 

Haven't found many reviews. Has anyone seen it?

Stage Door Sally said: "Haven't found many reviews. Has anyone seen it?"

UK Theatreboard discussion