Frank Sinatra, one of music’s great icons, is all set to ignite the South African stage in 2019 in a dazzling big band international show, Sinatra and Me, featuring celebrated British performer, Richard Shelton who has been described as one of the world’s finest Sinatra interpreters.  Shelton is an award-winning actor and singer and his show comes directly from the West End and Los Angeles. He will be accompanied on stage by Adam Howard’s 17-piece Joburg Big Band.

This highly acclaimed show kicks off in Durban at the Rockwood Theatre on 12 March with four shows before heading to Gauteng, The Mandela at Joburg Theatre from 21 March, and is bound to hit all the high notes with Sinatra fans.  See the American Promo video below:

The show is brought together with a narrative that looks at Shelton’s time starring as Sinatra in London’s West End to the synchronicity between their lives, borne out by many incredible coincidences in LA including how Sinatra’s tuxedo literally walked into his life, a fact which was verified by Sir Roger Moore aka James Bond, on live TV. There are also original music in the show including the title track scored for a big-band arrangement, Sinatra and Me, which was recorded in East West Studios, LA, where Sinatra recorded My Way and A Very Good Year.

Says Shelton: “Naturally, my biggest influence is the music of Frank Sinatra but also vocal styling from singers including Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. Musically, I’m influenced by the greats including Oscar Peterson, Count Basie but also by a lot of classical music. I’m drawn to musical arrangements that allow the lyrics to flow. For me, the lyrics come first. You have to be able to tell a story first and foremost. That’s not to discredit the music, but unless there’s space to make the lyrics really mean something for the audience, you have nothing.”

Shelton received a Best Actor in a Leading Role award for his performance as Frank Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential. Now South African audiences will get an opportunity to see him recreate the many magical moments in Sinatra’s musical career.

Shelton has performed for HRH Prince Charles at Windsor Castle, for Sir Elton John at his White Tie and Tiara Ball, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the BBC Big Band, at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London and on countless international TV and radio shows.

As an actor, Shelton is known to British TV audiences for playing series regular Dr Adam Forsythe in the TV show Emmerdale. Richard Shelton also recently made his US TV debut playing Mr Benson in House of Lies.

Hear the world’s greatest Sinatra interpreter sing the coolest Sinatra songs – an unforgettable night of song and storytelling.

After Joburg, Sinatra and Me travels to East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town prior to heading far South to New Zealand.

Sinatra and Me:

Durban

Dates: 12 to 17 March

Time: Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm

Ticket prices: R200

Venue: Rockwood Theatre

Booking: www.rockwoodtheatre.co.za/durban or sibaya@rockwoodtheatre.co.za

Pretoria

Date: 20 March

Venue: Atterbury Theatre

Booking: www.itickets.com   or www.atterburyteater.co.za

Johannesburg

Dates: 21 to 24 March

Time: Thursday and Sunday at 3pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm

Ticket prices: From R150 to R400

Venue: Joburg Theatre (The Mandela)

Booking: www.joburgtheatre.com

East London

Date: 27 March

Venue: Guild Theatre

Booking: www.computicket.com

Port Elizabeth

Dates: 29 March

Venue: Boardwalk Casino

Booking: www.webtickets.co.za

Cape Town

Date: 30 March

Time: 7pm

Venue: Paul Cluver

Booking: www.webtickets.co.za

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