Sinatra

I was lucky enough to be part of the world premiere of Sinatra the Musical in Birmingham, where I played Little Nancy, so it was really special to be invited back to watch the West End premiere.

It was amazing to see how the show has developed. There have been some subtle changes that have a big impact on the audience and make the emotional moments even more powerful.

One of my favourite things was watching the audience’s reactions. Frank Sinatra’s life had so many highs and lows, and you could really feel every emotion in the theatre. The show also highlights how much his first wife Nancy sacrificed for her family, and she became one of my favourite characters.

Phoebe Panaretos was outstanding as Nancy. Her vocals were incredible, and she perfectly captured Nancy’s strength, love and resilience as a devoted mother and wife.

It was also great to see some familiar faces from the original Birmingham cast alongside some fantastic new cast members, who all gave brilliant performances.

My favourite scene is when the three main characters, Frank, Ava Gardner, and Nancy come together and sing their hearts out. It’s such an emotional moment, and their voices together are simply stunning. It was one of those scenes that gave me goosebumps.

It was also lovely to watch one of the girls playing Little Nancy. She brought so much warmth to the role, and captured the innocence, love and happiness in Frank and Nancy’s family before life becomes more complicated. I was lucky enough to meet the other two girls who share the role. I wish all three of them the very best – they’re going to have an amazing time.

Overall, Sinatra the Musical is a powerful and emotional show. It was wonderful to see how it has grown since I was part of the world premiere, and I’m proud to have been a small part of its journey. I hope many more people get to experience the show.

— Amelia Connor @ameliaconnor_meams