BrightSide show features Sinatra tunes

For the final production of its inaugural season, BrightSide Theatre presents a musical revue dedicated to Old Blue Eyes.

North Central College presents BrightSide Theatre’s “My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” a musical conceived by David Grapes and Todd Olson, with book by Todd Olson, celebrating the pivotal moments of Sinatra’s life.

Nine performances will take place at 8 p.m. June 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, and at 3 p.m. June 17 and 24 and July 1 at the College’s Meiley-Swallow Hall.

“This is a revue that has been performed across the country before,” said Julie Kornak, executive director at BrightSide Theatre. “There are two men and two women who narrate the production and talk about Frank Sinatra and his life, and the days and times and the music, and how the music fit within his life and how Frank really made it his own. And there are medleys and songs sun throughout the piece that take you on a journey.”

There are 56 songs that Sinatra performed and made his own, she said, woven together with songs and dance to help tell the story of his life.

“It’s a great production and a lot of fun,” she said. “You will learn a lot about Frank. I think it’s cross-generational. Everyone knows who Frank is and loves his music, whether you are of the younger generation or the older generation.”

This is why they chose the piece as their first musical venture, she said.

No one impersonates Frank Sinatra, there are just four people singing his songs from each era of his career.

There will be a three-piece band onstage as well, she said.

A narration provides background information and details on his life and career, she said.

People will respond because of the pure entertainment value of the piece, she said.

“Frank is really that icon of cool in regards to his music,” she said. “He was that legendary status in regards to what he did musically. It appeals to all generations, and it’s fun. Here the songs that made history. All around, it’s a really entertaining evening.”

For the first season, a goal was to give audiences a taste of what they can expect from BrightSide in the future, she said, from farce and comedy and drama and musicals.

“It branches us into our second season of really doing different pieces,” she said.

Next season they plan on doing Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” Nov. 29-Dec. 9; “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza March 14-23, 2013; and Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” June 14-30, 2013.

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