Shades of Sinatra

Paying homage to nearly three decades of Ol' Blue Eyes' timeless showbiz career, Shades of Sinatra is a tribute show of truly massive proportions. Led by ex ”Rat Pack is Back” impersonator Carmine Mandia, Shades exemplifies a broad spectrum of Sinatra's music, packing over 30 songs into this dazzling 2-hour revue.

Shades of Sinatra officially opened in February 2011, sending the WOLF Theater of Clarion Hotel and Suites over capacity. Brainchild of the vivacious compere and celebrity impersonator Kelly Clinton, it was devised to be a celebration of the “effect of Sinatra”, rather than a lone tribute show. Clinton discovered her doppelgangers early on in the show's planning, allegedly whilst eavesdropping on an argument regarding “Frank trivia”. In less than three months, Clinton had enlisted Vegas favorite Carmine Mandia (as Frank), along with Larry Liso and Ryan Baker. A sensational jazz vocalist with a “contemporary edge”, lounge singer Lisa Smith was roped in shortly thereafter to add a softer, feminine element to the show. Directed by “Piano Follies” star Ned Mills, Shades of Sinatra does away with the tired 'back in time' concept, instead focusing upon the massive impact of the singer's legacy upon entertainers as a whole.

Debonair impersonator Carmine Mandia is an accomplished talent when it comes to embracing the character of Frank. Honored in 2006 with the ECE Excellence in Entertainment “Horizon Award”, he has graced the stage as Ol' Blue Eyes in the former Greek Isles' “Rat Pack is Black”, as well as “Frank and Barbra: The Show That Never Was”. Affable, convincing and as modest on stage as the man himself, Mandia's alter ego will astound and delight in equal measure. Beloved for his zany humor and vintage Vegas showmanship, Larry Liso adds a comedy dimension to evening with his light ribbing of Baker, who in turn lends his dynamically powerful vocals to a plethora of classic melodies, including audience favorite “My Way”.

It's perhaps key to mention that Shades of Sinatra would doubtless not have been as successful were it not for the talented big band that keep the show on its toes. Comprising a huge number of seasoned Vegas musicians and entertainers, they are emboldened by the feedback that labels them “as good as Sinatra's own touring band”. Intimate, yet vast, WOLF Theater is a prime acoustic venue for a show of this size and when filled, has an unmatched ambiance likened to the old Copa Room at Sand's Hotel. Baker brings to life Dean Martin's “Evening of Music, Laughter and Hard Liquor” with rousing solo renditions of “Volare” and “Ain't That A Kick In The Head”. The show concludes with a memorable cover of Sinatra's most famous American track; the ubiquitous “New York, New York”. As the audience shiver and rise to their feet, one well wonders if the Copa Room could ever have handled THIS kind of reception!