REVERE JOURNAL
SANDY HACKETT REVIVES THE RAT PACK AT STONEHAM THEATRE
By Sheila Barth
The Revere Journal
When 48-year-old Sandy Hackett was growing up in Fort Lee, N.J., Los Angeles and Las Vegas, it wasn't unusual for him and his younger sisters Ivy, and Lisa, a film producer, to be surrounded by the greatest entertainers in the world. After all, his dad was Buddy Hackett, comedian headliner whose pals were the biggest guys in the business.
It was only natural for Sandy, who holds a degree in hotel management from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and is a writer, actor and producer, to joke with Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and countless stars. What was unusual was during a lull in Frank Sinatra's career, he babysat Sandy and crooned lullabies to him.
Since Sandy Hackett was only a little kid, those memories are hazy, but his recollections are vivid about when the house was filled with the Rat Pack and other stars.
"It was the only life I knew, being with all these celebrities. They were just people to me," he said.
Comedian Joey Bishop was like an uncle to him and called Sandy about an HBO movie on the Rat Pack, suggesting Sandy would be perfect portraying him. However, the part was already cast.
Bishop's call motivated Sandy Hackett to create a live program on the Rat Pack. He worked on a script with Bishop and his dad, who died in 2003, studied the Rat Pack tapes, movies - anything he could get his hands on -and the 'Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean" was born. He has performed the uninterrupted, 90-minute show, complete with a 12-piece, big band, for the past 2-1/2 years in Vegas, at the former Debbie Reynolds Theatre, currently called the Greek Isles, and a stone's throw from the glittery strip.
While the show is ongoing there, Hackett has gathered an equally talented cast for a limited road tour. He is performing as Joey Bishop at the Stoneham Theatre Jan. 12-16. Show times are Wednesday, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 4, 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $38 adults, $32, seniors, and $22 for students. Call the box office at 781 -279-2200 or order tickets online at www.stonehamtheatre.org.
"This is going to be the smallest venue we're taking it to," he said. "We'll be in Easton, Pa. where the theater has 1,500 seats. We sold out last year and we are this year, too."
Hackett, who is 5 feet 11 inches, lives in Vegas and is getting married in April to singer-songwriter Lisa Miller, daughter of hit songwriter Ron Miller. The show has gained such acclaim, its audiences keep growing.
"This is as close as anyone has come to capturing the feeling of the real thing," writes Joe Delaney of the Las Vegas Sun.
Well, naturally. Nobody knew the Rat Pack as well as Sandy Hackett, and he can imitate all of them. During a phone interview in Las Vegas last week, Hackett easily switched from imitating Sammy Davis Jr. to Joey Bishop and Dean Martin. Not bad for a tall, white Jewish kid. In fact, he's so good, and the cast he's gathered is so authentic looking and sounding, Hackett said several celebrity patrons told him later that he uncannily has resurrected the four superstars.
In Stoneham, Gary Anthony as Sinatra sings "All of Me;" Doug Starks as Sammy Davis performs "What Kind of Fool Am I," and Andy DiMino as Dean Martin croons "That's Amore." The four sing many other hits while ad-libbing, clowning around and making merry on stage, like in the days of yore.
Producer is Rockland, Mass, native-entertainer Dick Feeney.
The show opens with the voice of Buddy Hackett as God, requesting the dynamic quartet return to the stage one more time as they did at the Sands in the '60s.
"We do a heck of a mix of everything. There's even a surprise guest. Marilyn Monroe makes a cameo appearance. It's fun - a lot of laughs," he said.
At the end of the show, the actors come into the audience to shake hands and chat with everyone. "It's a very special project for me because I got to meet all of the performers, and I have a licensing agreement with Joey, and have an agreement to be the only person to play him. Today, he's the only one alive," said Sandy. "Joey called to thank me."
And Bishop, 86, is Sandy Hackett's biggest fan. In fact, Bishop brought his extended family to see the show and loved it, said Hackett. Many who were affiliated with the Rat Pack have come to see it, including a longtime employee of Sinatra's, the Crocetti family (Dean Martin's family), Jack Klugman, Regis Philbin, who took photos of the cast, aired it on his show and endorsed it, and Rita Rudner.
Sammy Davis Jr.'s wife, Altavise, said she wants to see it because she heard so much about it. In fact, many celebrities, journalists, writers and people who are curious about the Rat Pack keep coming back as Hackett tweaks the show. When Sandy Hackett was told the Rat Pack's resurgence was buoyed by the "Oceans 11 and 12" movie recreations, he laughed.
"If it weren't for me, guys like Brad Pitt and George Clooney wouldn't even have work in this genre," he said joking. "They grabbed onto my coattails." More seriously, he added, "Everybody loves those guys [Sinatra, etc.], loves the past and history. You've got incredible music, incredible performers, songs you could listen to, and hear the words. We also recreated the relationship they had on stage and the comedy. I had two phenomenal teachers - my father and Joe [Bishop]," he said. " I think they'll [audience] have a terrific time. If you like me and my dad, you'll love us again and I'm very happy to be coming to Stoneham." |
