Eric Comstock, Christopher Gines and Hilary Kole created and performed a beautiful musical revue in tribute to Frank Sinatra in their revival of the show they first brought to life 25 years ago. “Our Sinatra, A Musical Celebration” is currently playing at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater on W 64th Street. All three performed Sinatra songs, and Comstock played the piano as they took us through his biggest hits of the ’40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. The audience gets to hear about Sinatra’s career as a singer, a musical movie actor, and his incredible connection with his audience. Sinatra comes across as very much down to earth, as a man who knew love and heartbreak.
Christopher Gines performed Sinatra’s songs, and he truly makes one think of this great crooner as he sings with passion, heart, and incredibly smooth deliveries. Hilary Kole is absolutely fabulous as she belts out Sinatra songs. The audience, which was mostly made up of seniors, were taken down memory lane and had the opportunity to sway to the hits of Old Blue Eyes including “Fly Me to the Moon,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Come Fly with Me,” “(Love Is) The Tender Trap,” “The Best Is Yet To Come,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Where or When,” “Day In, Day Out,” “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road),” and “The Lady Is a Tramp” in addition to so many others.
Sinatra was in the movie “From Here To Eternity” and sang the title song with the same name, a drama that won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. I grew up on Frank Sinatra movies and music, so this show was a blast from the past for me and one I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’ve ever watched a Sinatra movie musical like “Anchors Aweigh,” you know how endearing his character was and how engaging his performances always are. Watching these three people who created this show, you can feel their admiration, respect, and love for this musical icon.
There is a point in the cabaret-style show where Kole shares a phenomenal experience her father, Robert Kole, who was also a performer, had with Sinatra, and it is a delightful story to hear. This marvelous production is directed by Kurt Stamm.
This production is a must-see for Sinatra fans! For tickets, visit oursinatra.com.
