Tony Award winner Matt Doyle will play Frank Sinatra in the world première of Sinatra the Musical at Birmingham Rep.
Doyle said, “I have no doubt my Italian grandmothers would be profoundly overjoyed. This one is for Geraldine Padula and Nicoletta Macchia who raised my family and me on Frank’s music. I can’t begin to express what an honour it is to take on the Chairman of the Board’s incredible legacy.”
Director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall commented, “Matt is an incredible actor and singer. He has all the charm, charisma, sensitivity and depth to bring the story of Frank Sinatra's life and artistry to Birmingham Rep.”
Sinatra’s youngest child Tina added, “Sinatra is the first musical to take an honest look at my father's life, so the question people kept asking was who could possibly play him?
“From the moment Matt Doyle swaggered into the audition room, he owned the role. Not only did he naturally possess Frank's warmth and charm, Matt understood my father's complexities. And once he began to sing, we knew we had found our Frank!
“In addition to his extraordinary talent, Matt also possesses an intuitive sensitivity about life that will help reveal the man behind the legend. I can't wait to see him in the role. I know dad will be proud of him.”
Doyle won the 2022 Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for his performance as Jamie in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company.
Sinatra the Musical is written by Joe DiPietro. It features 20 actors and 17 musicians performing more than 25 Sinatra songs. It will run at Birmingham Rep from Saturday 23 September until Saturday 28 October.