I've been getting free ticket offers for Sinatra, Dance With Me for a while now. This show, at the Encore, was originally scheduled for a very short run and has been extended. I originally did no research into this show as many other shows were talking about runs at the Encore Theater. The only buzz was the name Twyla Tharp conceived it, Twyla Tharp choreographed it, and Twyla Tharp directed it. I don't even know who Twyla is. It sounded like a big dance number with some great music. Had it been billed as great music with a dance twist, I would have been more interested.

So finally, I go. It is so terribly sad for me to go to the Encore Theater where the halls were adorned with Spamalot decor. Oh how I miss the albatross in the lobby. And walking into the showroom and not seeing the Spamalot castle set is sad. After I sat down and started looking around, I looked up and saw a hint of Spamalot. The ceiling of the back seats below the balcony have not been remodeled. They are blue with gold trim just as they were in the good old days. I felt better.

I'm not really big on dance but I opened myself up a little to give it a chance. To my surprise, it was an entertaining show. The 17 piece band sits on a raised platform in the back half of the stage. The front half of the stage is an art deco style bar setting with a dance floor. The set pretty much stays the same for the whole show. While the band kicks out some seriously good music with Frank singing, the actors perform their numbers with no speech or singing. Sometimes they are acting along with the lyrics of the song and other times they are dancing to the music, and sometimes I'm not really sure what they are doing.

To a degree, there is some classic dance moves that are well choreographed. But this is not old school dance. It involves a lot of acrobatics, throwing bodies around, bouncing off each other, and a lot of moves outside of the box. It's just short of Cirque type moves, and still stays in the realm of dance. To the best I can tell it's the story of several couples in a bar as they flirt, fall in love, fall out of love, explore others, and everyone lives happily ever after. From the "experienced" bar hoppers, to the sleazy ones, to the awkward couple that come together for the first time.

I must admit that it is interesting to watch the show. There were a couple of times when I was watching the band and the crowd let out an ooh or ahh and I missed someone being tossed around and caught. For a monday night when the Encore was almost empty, this show room was over 90% full and that doesn't happen much these days.

I can't say that the show accurately captures the spirit of Sinatra or not. Much like Viva Elvis, I think that this show celebrates someone and that someone would be very pleased with this modern day version. I think this show would appeal to many. I think it would be a great choice for a date night.

Thanks, JMT.

Nice review but I don't plan to go and see it unless it includes various episodes in Mr. SInatra's life where he either punched or ordered someone to punch a LV dealer or a LA restaurant car attendant on his behalf because of some minor personal infraction.

Was there any truth to those adverse stories?

But I must assume that those questionable actions would not be included in a musical tribute to one of entertainment's greatest personalities .... and rightfully so.

But it would be a great idea to present his actual life and lifestyle in a Broadway Musical. He offered enough 'material' to cover many Broadway seasons.

I had the pleasure of 'meeting' him once but only for a few brief moments before he was whisked away by bodyguards. leaving me to carry on a nice conversation with none other than Kim Novak,

This all occured during the filming of PAL JOEY in San Francisco where I was in a scene passing by a bar in Chinatown where "Frank" gets tossed out and knocks me over - a scene I have been unable to find on any Pal Joey video copy.

By the time I got up, Frank or his double had been whisked away once again before I had a chance to actually see who had knocked me down.

Stars like Frank get whisked a lot.

Twyla Tharp is a big-time choreographer from New York. She's been around since the 60's. She worked for years in ballet and in the early 80's started doing Broadway shows. She won a Tony award for the choreography in Billy Joel's "Movin' Out" show. This particular Sinatra show had a run on Broadway last year. It sounds very interesting.

I probably wouldn't pay to see this show.
I do see it's mass appeal however. But then I didn't think Cheap Trick doing a beatles Album would be any good either and look how wrong I was on that one!

So when does the Louis Prima Cirque show come out?

It is an interesting show. I would suggest the show to Mike if he were in town. As for Lee, there may be situations where he could enjoy it. I would not recommend it to him even though I think it would somewhat exceed his expectations.

There was a Louis Prima show being developed in California without Cirque involvement. I haven't heard much about it lately.