cast and creative
BRIAN DUPREY (Frank Sinatra) You’ve probably seen Brian Duprey on FOX TV‘s ‘Performing As.’ Brian won $20,000 portraying his idol, Frank Sinatra. Talent judge Damon Elliott (music producer ofMya, Beyoncé, and Jessica Simpson) was blown away the first time he saw Brian perform. It was like he was watching ‘Young Blue Eyes’ perform. Television viewers agreed and thousands flocked to FOX’s website to compliment his uncanny likeness to Sinatra’s own singing voice. Singing since the age of 6 and becoming captivated with Sinatra’s voice by age 13, Brian has always felt connected to the golden era of music. From his singing days in high school variety shows to doing stand-up comedy, it took Brian until he was an undergraduate at Fairfield University to really discover his passion for jazz and swing music. Today, Brian stands alone as the number one Frank Sinatra performer in the world. His singing and acting talents in Las Vegas and Performing Arts Theaters across the country sets the ‘The Rat Pack Is Back’ apart from the competition.
DREW ANTHONY (Dean Martin) Since he received his B.F.A. from the Mannes College of Music Jazz Division in New York City, he has established himself as one of the finest jazz singers in the Tri-State area. He has produced shows that have been successful on many stages ranging from the Shubert Theater, the Intermezzo Night Club in the Foxwoods Resort & Casino and the OpSail CT Tall Ship Event. He has recorded three CDs live, the first of which is entitled “You don’t know me”, which includes blues pianist Junior Mance on the title song. He has the first CD of his continuing series “On The Road” completed which has been seen on local television stations throughout the state of Connecticut. His musical show “The American Standards” was a hit at the famed Danny’s Skylight Room Cabaret in N.Y.C. He has concertized at the Jazz Spot in New York City, Yale University’s Sprague Memorial Hall and the famous Shubert Theater. Drew Anthony’s vocal quality and sense of rhythm have been recognized by many big bands in the state of CT, he has made special appearances with the Pat Dorn Orchestra in the Wolf Den at the Mohegan Sun Casino and many outdoor concerts with the Sounds of Swing Jazz Orchestra. Drew Anthony enjoyed singing with the big bands so much he created his own big band known as the “Drew Anthony Orchestra.” The Drew Anthony Orchestra made it’s debut in the concert entitled “Come Fly With Me.” Drew Anthony’s vocal delivery combined with his swinging orchestra, made it difficult for the audience to decide between watching, listening or dancing. He has studied jazz voice with internationally known jazz recording artists Sheila Jordan, Jackie Paris, and classically with Munich’s Bavarian State Opera tenor, John Kuhn. of The Rat Pack is Back.
KYLE DIAMOND (Sammy Davis Jr.) Kyle comes from a musical family. His father was a pianist who fronted his own band, his grandfather a guitarist, and his brother, Kenny Davis, is a very talented and respected musician who has played with some of the greats from the Motown era and toured with the Ellington band. As a teenager, Kyle co-founded what would become a very popular Cleveland area band, The Pacesetters and later another group, Phantasy, which performed in nightclubs around the country. Most recently Kyle has found a home performing in the casinos of Las Vegas while continuing his love of songwriting. He is thrilled to join the company of The Rat Pack is Back.
MICKEY JOSEPH (Joey Bishop) To put himself through school, Mickey worked at an Italian restaurant, where his tableside antics, celebrity impressions, and roll juggling caught the eye of his boss, who suggested he seek a career in show business (or any business other than his restaurant.) Mickey heeded his advice and attended his first acting class in 1981 at Canada College in Redwood City California. After six semesters of intense scene work under the direction of Robert Curtis, he was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena California in 1983. Mickey entered the world of stand up comedy, moving to Hollywood where he joined an improv group MICE and began writing and performing his own act. He left Los Angeles and headed north to be close to his family. His career as a stand-up comedian has flourished in the San Francisco Bay Area for twenty five years. He works the hottest comedy clubs on the west coast and Las Vegas. He has honed his craft through decades of one-nighters and club weeks. Television appearances on NBC's Friday Night Videos, ABC's America's Funniest Videos, and FOX's Comedy Day Celebration. Mickey is a finalist in the San Francisco International Comedy Competition 1998, and has hosted this prestigious annual event seven times. He is author of “What Would Don Corleone Do?” a humorous and touching book about his experiences in stand-up comedy and surviving as a single parent. He is well known for obscure celebrity impressions; Johnny Cochran defending the Unibomber, Sargent Bilko on Acid, and Ricky Ricardo singing a pornographic version of Cuban Pete. All three recorded live on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Radio Program. He has performed with Ellen Degeneres, Drew Carey, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, Bill Engvall, Richard Lewis, Kevin Polakc, The Amazing Jonathan, Vinnie Favorito, Zack Galafanakis, Wille Nelson, Huey Lewis, Michael Buble, Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory and Robin Williams. Mickey's well tailored, hysterically funny comedy act is what attracted The Rat Pack is Back producer Dick Feeney.
DICK FEENEY (Producer) Dick Feeney, producer of “The Rat Pack is Back,” is no stranger to the Vegas action. Known by some as a “marketing producer,” if there’s one thing Feeney knows it’s how to sell a show in the Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” Dick Feeney grew up in the Boston area, in Rockland, Massachusetts. After years of touring with the highly popular Boston based band the “Lewis & Clark Expedition” Feeney formed his own group “Gemini” and continued developing the talent and skills to make him one of the countries top nightclub entertainers. Producing his first critically acclaimed show in 1981 “Lullaby of Swing” in Honolulu, Hawaii, he then toured the production for successful runs in both Atlantic City at the Tropicana and Boston at the Bradford Theatre. Feeney first came to Las Vegas in 1985 as Associate Producer of “An Evening at La Cage” at the Riviera Hotel & Casinoand in 1987 Produced “Crazy Girls." In 1991 Feeney opened “Viva Las Vegas” at the Sands Hotel & Casino. Viva Las Vegas’ run of over 18 years makes it the longest running and most successful afternoon show in Las Vegas history. Since his producing debut, Feeney has gone on to produce numerous other shows worldwide from Japan to Monte Carlo, including “Viva Las Vegas,” “Showgirls,” “The Great Gleason,” “Bottoms Up,” “Forbidden Vegas,” and “Playboy Girls Hit Parade.” His television productions include “The Entertainment Page,” “Las Vegas Tonite” and “Karaoke Krazy.” Feeney even tapped into the success of family-friendly Vegas acts, producing “The World’s Greatest Magic Show” that opened in October of 2003 and — of course — “The “Rat Pack is Back.” An avid traveler himself, Feeney’s even taken his productions to the sky, as owner of The Flying Elvi skydiving team. The Flying Elvi, who were first featured in the movie “Honeymoon in Vegas,” consists of ten Elvis Presley clad jumpers who skydive into events around the world from altitudes of 5,000 - 12,000 feet, freefalling at speeds up to 160 miles an hour. The act combines a spine-tingling aerial skydiving performance of smoke trails, pyrotechnic fireworks and precision maneuvers with an over-the-top entertaining stage show and has entertained audiences across the country for over a decade. With shows currently running in Las Vegas plus touring productions, the Flying Elvi darting about the heavens, a home in Las Vegas, Hawaii and Utah, a wife Melissa and four children including a three year old, Feeney may seem busy but loves it all. In October of 2008 Feeney was awarded a star on the prestigious “Las Vegas Walk of Stars” for his outstanding contributions to the Las Vegas community. The star is permanently on display in the sidewalk in front of the New York, New York Hotel and Casino. In May of 2009 he was unanimously selected for induction into the Rockland High School Academic Hall of Fame.
LON BRONSON (Musical Director) For over 20 years, Lon Bronson has been one of the most highly sought after musicians in the country, functioning as musical director, conductor, arranger, producer and technical director for National TV, Headline performers, Production Shows, and for large scale corporate events/award presentations. Lon’s primary vehicle for bringing high energy, world-class music to Las Vegas on a weekly basis is the Lon Bronson Band. Formed in 1990, the band is enjoying an unprecedented run. Over 17 successful years, two as headliners in the Golden Nugget Showroom, the band has received tremendous notoriety for an outstanding level of musicianship. The Lon Bronson Band holds the record for the longest running band in Las Vegas history.
GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is in his 7th season as the Playhouse's Technical Director and his 2nd as the overall Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows and is also the technical supervisor for the Children's Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra repertory Theatre in California. For 5 years he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now he fills his off-season drafting, engineering and developing tour trollies for Molly Corp. With his wife Cheryl, (Scenic Charge artist for the Playhouse) he has designed award winning parade floats. His "born-in-a trunk" 12 yr. old daughter Ashlynn is an aspiring actress, musician and artist who hopes to make her Main Stage debut in the near future!
RICH LATTA (Lighting Designer) has called Ogunquit his summer home for many years and is just as excited about the upcoming season as the ones' before. Favorite designs include: 9 to 5, Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, Summer of Love, Evita (twice) Les Miserables, Songs For a New World, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Aida, Chicago, Annie, and Spamalot. In addition, Richard has designed Off-Broadway, Dance, Opera, and other events since the 1980s. His visual research can be seen in the projections for the Broadway productions of Thurgood (starring James Earl Jones/Lawrence Fishburne), The People In The Picture, The Mark Taper Forum production of Distracted, the operas Moby Dick (Sydney, Dallas, SF Operas) and Mazeppa (Met Opera). Richard is a teaching artist with American Ballet Theater, and is a Technical and Design consultant for Arts High School in Newark, NJ. He is based in NY/NJ during the times he is not at the Playhouse.
RYAN NEELY (Production Manager) is thrilled to join the team at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Previously Ryan was the Producing Director at THEATREWORKS in Colorado Springs, Adjunct Professor of Stage Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and the Assistant Production Manager at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Ryan has also worked as Stage Manager for many theaters across the country including the Disneyland Resort. Ryan received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California Irvine. Ryan would like to thank his wife for all her love and support.
JEREMY OLEKSA (Sound Designer) is extremely excited to return to the Ogunquit Playhouse for his 5th season. His show credits include: Man of La Mancha, Damn Yankees, Spamalot, Sunset Boulevard, Chicago, Sound of Music, Music Man, Miss Saigon, Buddy, South Pacific, and 9 to 5. On his most recent production, he was the Engineer on the National Tour of Spamalot. Jeremy would like to thank all his friends and family for their continued support, especially his wife Becky Oleksa.