Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

‘Frank: The Man, The Music’ to close Nov. 28 at Palazzo Theater

'Frank: The Man, The Music' Opening Night

Tom Donoghue / DonoghuePhotography.com

Opening night of “Frank: The Man, The Music” starring Bob Anderson on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Palazzo.

‘Frank: The Man, The Music’ Opening Night

Opening night of Launch slideshow »

Makeup for ‘Frank: The Man, The Music’

Kazu Tsuji works on the makeup for Bob Anderson, who plays Frank Sinatra in “Frank: The Man, The Music,” at Palazzo on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »

Bob Anderson’s inspired production “Frank: The Man, The Music” will not quite make Old Blue Eyes’ 100th birthday celebration.

The show is closing Nov. 28, a couple of weeks shy of Sinatra’s birthday of Dec. 12.

Anderson himself confirmed the show’s closing today in text (Anderson was en route to his show tonight and unavailable to talk about the show closing).

The production, in which Anderson is made over by stage-show artist Ron Wild (who took over that task from Oscar-nominated film artist Kazu Tsuji), opened in December and in June signed an extension through the end of the year. Anderson had not anticipated performing at Palazzo Theater past Dec. 31, but he had looked forward to lasting through Sinatra’s birthday.

“Frank: The Man, The Music” served as an inspiration for musicians throughout Las Vegas, with its 32-piece orchestra — all members onstage — performing under the direction of onetime Sinatra music director Vince Falcone. But the show played under a difficult financial model, as it needed about 600 paid ticketholders per show to break even.

Highly regarded in the Las Vegas entertainment scene for decades (especially during his decade-long run at the Top of the Dunes from 1975-’85), Anderson had complained about ineffective marketing of the production and talked of launching a widespread campaign to help reinvigorate the show.

He also has invited potential investors to the show in the hopes of moving it to Broadway or sending it on a national tour of performing arts centers.

Those who have visited the show and given it high praise include Tony Bennett, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin’s daughter, Deana Martin.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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