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That’s life! Musical about Frank Sinatra’s explosive rise opens in London – in pictures

A new West End blockbuster puts Ol’ Blue Eyes in the spotlight and features the superstar’s hits including One for My Baby and Come Fly With Me. Take a first look

Photographs by Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Joel Harper-Jackson as Frank Sinatra in Sinatra: The Musical.

Mon 8 Jun 2026 15.00 EDT

Last modified on Tue 9 Jun 2026 05.52 EDT

Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra), centre, in Sinatra The Musical — Joel Harper-Jackson plays the title role in Sinatra: The Musical
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A scene from Sinatra The Musical — The show has opened at the Aldwych theatre in London
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Phoebe Panaretos (Nancy Sinatra) and Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — Phoebe Panaretos plays Nancy Barbato, who married Sinatra in 1939
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Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — The show follows his stratospheric success after a New Year’s Eve show at New York’s Paramount theatre in 1942
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Adam Davidson (Gene Kelly) — There are some megastar supporting characters including Gene Kelly, played by Adam Davidson
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Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) and Becky Anderson (Lana Turner) — Becky Anderson is Lana Turner
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Melissa Nettleford (Billie Holiday) and Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — Melissa Nettleford stars as Billie Holiday
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Allana Taylor (Marlene Dietrich) and Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — Allana Taylor plays Marlene Dietrich
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Ana Villafañe portrays Ava Gardner — Ana Villafañe portrays Ava Gardner
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Allana Taylor and Sam Brown (Tommy Dorsey) — Sam Brown, right, is Tommy Dorsey
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A scene from Sinatra The Musical — The show is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall
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Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — It’s written by Joe DiPietro
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Lee Zarrett as publicist George Evans and Jenna Russell as Dolly Sinatra, Frank’s mother. — Lee Zarrett as publicist George Evans and Jenna Russell as Dolly Sinatra, Frank’s mother
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A scene from Sinatra The Musical — Sinatra: The Musical was originally produced at Birmingham Rep in 2023
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Mia Musakambeva, Adam Davidson and Becky Anderson — Mia Musakambeva, Adam Davidson and Becky Anderson
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Sinatra: The Musical has a set design by Peter McKintosh, costumes by Jon Morrell and lighting by Bruno Poet. — The production has a set design by Peter McKintosh, costumes by Jon Morrell and lighting by Bruno Poet
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Joel Harper-Jackson (Frank Sinatra) — Sinatra: The Musical is at the Aldwych theatre, London, until 10 April 2027
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