Ring-a-Ding-Ding the Holidays with the Rat Pack
Christmas With The Rat Pack at Proctors in Schenectady
Nothing represents the holiday spirit than an evening with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. So, if you’re in the mood for holiday songs, beverages and broads, you’re in luck as Christmas With The Rat Pack—Live At The Sands is coming to Proctors for a limited engagement from Friday, December 20th through Sunday, December 22, 2013.
Known for their antics, witty repartee and showmanship–when you think of the Rat Pack, what usually comes to mind is Frank, Dean, Sammy, bourbon, cigarettes, tuxedos, John F. Kennedy, shtick, witty zingers, and broads.
Considered pioneer entertainers of Las Vegas, Frank, Dean and Sammy made The Sands famous due to countless personal appearances, scheduled and spontaneous. Each visit was peppered with zany banter, practical jokes and genuine love and respect.
The Rat Pack’s origins go back to the 1950s with the Holmby Hills Rat Pack, a group centered on actor Humphrey Bogart. Numerous Hollywood stars including Lauren Bacall, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Sid Luft, Swifty Lazar, David Niven, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, George Cukor, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Rex Harrison, Nat King Cole, Mickey Rooney and Cesar Romero would hang out with Bogie and basically stay up all night drinking bourbon.
After Bogart died in 1957, the group was reinvented with Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and briefly, Norman Fell (that’s Mr. Roper to you, fella!). The Rat Pack dominated Las Vegas and Hollywood in the 1960s, selling out all their live performances with their impromptu shtick, and their dynamics have been immortalized in numerous films, including Ocean’s Eleven (1960), Sergeants 3 (1962), 4 for Texas (1963) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964).
Featuring Tam Ward as Frank Sinatra, Jason Pennycooke as Sammy Davis Jr., and Nigel Casey as Dean Martin, who will be accompanied by a live 12-piece big band featuring the fabulous Burelli Sisters. You’ll hear such classics as “Fly Me To The Moon,” “The Lady Is A Tramp,” “Mr. Bojangles” and “That’s Amore,” along with seasonal favorites like “Merry Little Christmas,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland.”
So chuck those holiday blues away and let the Rat Pack put a smile on your face…because Frank said so!
Proctors is located at 432 State Street in Schenectady. For more information including, tickets prices, and all dates and times, visit http://proctors.org/events/rat-pack
–By The Free George Staff. Photo Courtesy of Proctors.
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