Producers have announced that Emmy Award-winning writer Danny Strong has been commissioned to write the book for a highly anticipated new musical based on the life of the legendary singer and actor Frank Sinatra.
Led by producers Ambassador Theatre Group, Stewart Till and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, along with Edward Walson, the show, which is planned to open in early 2020, will feature a number of timeless hit songs from Sinatra’s incredible catalogue recorded during his illustrious career.
Already well-known for his acting and producing careers, Danny Strong’s writing credits include Game Change – for which he won an Emmy Award, a Producers Guild Award and a Writers Guild of America Award – The Butler, Recount, and both parts of the Hollywood blockbuster films in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. He is also the co-creator of the American musical drama television series Empire.
Of the announcement, Strong said: “It is an honour to get to write a musical about one of the biggest icons of the 20th Century. Sinatra is one of the great talents of all time and his fascinating and powerful story will make for a terrific stage musical. I’m deeply honoured to get this opportunity.”
Adam Speers of Ambassador Theatre Group said: “To have Danny on board is amazing news. His previous work speaks for itself and it made perfect sense to have him write the book for what is set to be a unique musical about an all-time Hollywood legend and icon.”
Frank Sinatra’s legacy and body of music is timeless and resonates with all generations. This announcement follows the news that Sinatra extended his record for the most top 40-charting albums on the Billboard 200 with the 2017 release of ‘Ultimate Christmas’, which became his 58th Top 40 hit.
Throughout his nine-decade career, Sinatra performed on more than 1,400 recordings and was awarded 31 gold, nine platinum, three double-platinum and one triple platinum album by the Recording Industry Associated of America. He received nine Grammy Awards over the course of his career, including three for the prestigious Album of the Year, and an Oscar. He also appeared in more than 60 films and produced eight motion pictures.