With Ana Villafañe as Ava Gardner & Phoebe Panaretos as Nancy Sinatra
Tickets on sale Wednesday 5 February 2026. Performances begin Wednesday 3 June 2026 at Aldwych Theatre, London
It was announced today that Joel Harper-Jackson will play Frank Sinatra in Sinatra The Musical – the West End premiere of the new musical based on the life and career of the legendary artist and cultural icon.
He is joined by Ana Villafañe as the movie goddess Ava Gardner and Phoebe Panaretos as Frank’s first wife, Nancy Sinatra.
Joel Harper-Jackson said: ‘Stepping into the shoes of Frank Sinatra is a privilege I don’t take lightly. There is only one Frank, and I’m committed to honouring his legacy with truth, respect and integrity. To collaborate with Kathleen Marshall, Joe DiPietro, Gareth Valentine, Universal Music and, of course, Tina Sinatra is an honour beyond words. Returning to the Aldwych Theatre, where I made my West End debut eleven years ago, feels like coming home. Frank was my grandad’s hero, so this role is deeply personal. Preparation has begun, and I’m so excited to start this journey.’
Director Kathleen Marshall commented: ‘Joel Harper-Jackson, Phoebe Panaretos and Ana Villafañe are the ideal actors to play Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra and Ava Gardner. They are all amazingly talented, triple-threat performers who possess the charm, magnetism and passion to embody these three charismatic and fascinating people.’
Tina Sinatra added: ‘I was a baby when the events of this show happened. For years, I lived with the effects but never fully understood the cause until I saw these magical actors embody the roles of my dad, my mom and Ava. Amazingly, Joel, Phoebe and Ana illuminate these three people who were very dear to me, and I can’t wait for West End audiences to embrace these remarkable performers as strongly as I have.’
Sinatra The Musical, which features over 20 timeless hits including That’s Life, One For My Baby, The Best Is Yet To Come & Come Fly With Me, is to begin performances at Aldwych Theatre, London on Wednesday 3 June 2026. Press Night will be Wednesday 24 June 2026. Tickets are on sale from Wednesday 4 February 2026 from www.sinatramusical.com
Joel Harper-Jackson is an acclaimed stage and screen actor, most recently seen playing the title role in Daniel’s Husband at the Marylebone Theatre and playing Harry in the National Theatre’s production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge in the West End. Joel is perhaps best known for his co-lead performance as ‘M’ in Cock at the Ambassadors Theatre, opposite Jonathan Bailey, which received widespread critical praise. His extensive theatre credits include the lead role of ‘Charlie Price’ in Kinky Boots the Musical (UK Tour), ‘Tom Price’ in Pieces of String (Mercury Theatre), ‘Orpheus’ in Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus (The Other Palace), and ‘Mr Thompson’ and Movement Captain in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (UK Tour). Other notable stage work includes ‘Simon’ in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), ‘Che’ in Evita (Ljubljana Festival, Slovenia), ‘John Brooke’ in Little Women (Hope Mill Theatre), ‘American Admiral’ in Pacific Overtures (Union Theatre), and appearances in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), Picture Perfect (St James Theatre), Rent (UK Tour) and West End Women (UK Tour). Alongside his theatre work, Joel has built a strong and growing screen profile. He also appears in Prime Video’s The Devil’s Hour (season two), directed by Johnny Allan, and as ‘Hodge’ in the second season of BBC’s Daddy Issues, directed by Damon Beesley.
Ana Villafañe is a Broadway star best known for her debut originating the role of ‘Gloria Estefan’ in On Your Feet! directed by Jerry Mitchell (Theatre World Award, Drama League Award, Outer Critics Circle Nom).
She was last onstage starring as ‘Lola’ in Damn Yankees directed by Sergio Trujillo (Arena Stage) and in the world premiere of N/A at opposite Holland Taylor, directed by Diane Paulus (Lincoln Center). ‘Nina’ in the Kennedy Center’s 2018 production of In the Heights. Earned her second Drama League Award in 2019 for MCC’s critically acclaimed Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties by Jen Silverman. Re-opened Chicago on Broadway in 2021 as the 25th anniversary ‘Roxie Hart’ (Ambassador Theatre). TV Credits include: Eva 8 on WondLA (AppleTV+), KT on Younger (Netflix/Paramount+), Dr. Valentina Castro on New Amsterdam (NBC/Netflix), and Diana Barea on Sunnyside (NBC/Hulu). Film Credits include: The title role in upcoming feature film Castro’s Daughter opposite James Franco (2026)
Phoebe Panaretos made international headlines after being handpicked by Baz Luhrmann to play the lead role of ‘Fran’ in the world premiere musical adaptation of Strictly Ballroom, directed by Luhrmann. She was nominated for both a Helpmann and Green Room Award for Best Female in a Musical for the role.
Theatre credits include: Sinatra the Musical (Birmingham Rep Theatre); Strictly Baz Luhrmann: The Concert (Sydney Opera House); Silence! The Musical (Turbine Theatre/Edinburgh Underbelly); Fantastic Mr. Fox (Sydney Theatre Company); Zorro (Charing Cross Theatre); Cake (MT Fest); Strictly Ballroom (World Premier); Lazarus (The Production Company); Singin’ in the Rain (The Production Company); American Idiot (Shake and Stir – Helpmann Award Nomination for Best Supporting Female in a Musical); Dream Lover (Gordon Frost Organisation).
Television and Film credits include: Greatest Days (Pathe Productions); Mr & Mrs Murder (Fremantle Media).
It is New Year’s Eve, 1942, and a skinny 27-year-old Italian American singer is about to step onto the stage of New York’s Paramount Theatre and give a performance that will change music history. As Frank Sinatra’s career suddenly skyrockets, he struggles with balancing the love of his wife, Nancy, against the demands and temptations of being the most popular singer in America. But when he begins a torrid affair with movie goddess Ava Gardner, his records stop selling and the press turns against him, sending his career into a tailspin. Driven by his devotion to his family, Sinatra employs his peerless artistry and dogged determination to stage the greatest comeback in showbiz history.
Sinatra The Musical is written by the two-time Tony award-winning writer Joe DiPietro (Memphis the Musical, What’s New Pussycat?), directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winning Kathleen Marshall (Top Hat, Anything Goes) and the set is designed by Olivier Award-winning Peter McKintosh (Top Hat, When We Are Married). The orchestra of seventeen musicians will be supervised by Gareth Valentine (My Fair Lady, 42nd Street). They are joined by Jon Morrell (Costume Designer), Bruno Poet (Lighting Designer), Jonathan Deans (Sound Designer), Akhila Krishnan (Video Designer), Campbell Young Associates (Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer), Larry Blank (Orchestrator), Ian Eisendrath & Gareth Valentine (Arrangements), David Chase (Dance Arrangements), David Grindrod, CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting (Casting Director), Jim Carnahan (US Casting Director), Jason Thinger (US Casting (Carnahan), and Carol Lee Meadows (Associate Director/Choreographer).
Joe DiPietro has won two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. His work has had thousands of productions around the world. His shows include Memphis (2010 Tony Award for Best Musical); Nice Work If You Can Get It (which received 10 Tony nominations,) All Shook Up (featuring the songs of Elvis Presley,) Diana (which can be seen on Netflix); The Toxic Avenger (OCC Award – Best off-Broadway Musical); Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Off-Broadway Alliance Award – Best Musical) I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (the longest-running musical revue in off-Broadway history,) as well as the much-produced comedies Clever Little Lies, Over the River and Through the Woods and The Last Romance. His comic thrillers include “The Art of Murder” (Edgar Award – Best Mystery) and his latest, “An Old-Fashioned Family Murder.” His adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel “Babbitt” recently debuted at La Jolla Playhouse & DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company and starred Matthew Broderick. He has two new musicals preparing for Broadway: 3 Summers of Lincoln (which recently debuted at La Jolla Playhouse) and What’s New, Pussycat? featuring the music of Sir Tom Jones (which recently debuted at Birmingham Rep.)
Kathleen Marshall is a nine-time Tony Award nominee, winning three times for Best Choreography for the Broadway revivals of Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game and Anything Goes. She has worked on more than twenty Broadway shows and she is the first woman to have directed a play, directed a musical and choreographed a musical on Broadway. She received an Olivier Award for her choreography of the West End production of Anything Goes. Other UK credits include Top Hat (Chichester Festival Theatre and current UK tour) and Sinatra The Musical (Birmingham Rep). Off-Broadway and regional credits include the New York Shakespeare Festival, Second Stage, Transport Group, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Old Globe, Long Wharf, Paper Mill, Hollywood Bowl, Boston Pops, Signature Theatre and St. Louis MUNY. Kathleen served as the Artistic Director for City Center Encores! for four seasons, during which time Encores! received a special Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre.
Her film and television credits include My Week with Marilyn (choreographer), Once Upon a Mattress, The Music Man (choreographer) and “2 Broke Girls”. She has received three Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, an Emmy nomination, the Astaire Award, the George Abbott Award, the Smith College Medal (her alma mater), the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for the Arts and she has been named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.
She was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
Further casting for Sinatra The Musical will be announced at a later date.
Sinatra The Musical was originally produced at The Birmingham Rep in 2023 – with Phoebe Panaretos and Ana Villafañe playing the roles of Nancy Sinatra and Ava Gardner.
Sinatra The Musical is presented by Michele Anthony and Bruce Resnikoff for Universal Music Group Theatrical, Tina Sinatra and Charles Pignone for Frank Sinatra Enterprises, Executive Producer Scott Landis, Executive Producer Chris Harper and UK General Management by Short Street Productions Ltd. Co-Producers are Stephen Byrd, Richard Batchelder, Julie Boardman, Wendy Federman & Lisa Wolofsky, Simon Hunt, Willette and Manny Klausner, Victoria Lang, Larry Magid, Carl Moellenberg, Tom Perakos, Mark Rubinstein and Ken & Janet Schur.
Sinatra The Musical is developed by Frank Sinatra Enterprises in partnership with Universal Music Group, the world leader in music-based entertainment.