A Rat Pack Tribute Show: Re-Creating The Magic

September 26, 2009

There is one Rat Pack Tribute show that evokes the music, style, comedy and camaraderie of the originals, and that is The Rat Pack Now, out of South Florida and led by Art Poco, who plays the Dean Martin character.Watching them perform, you can’t help but feel that the Rat Pack is back.

The most important aspect of a Rat Pack re-creation is the casting, for they have to be worthy of playing the roles. For example, the impersonator of Frank Sinatra has to have blue eyes, which people would appreciate more if they were genuine. More importantly, the tribute artist has to evoke the vocal quality and presence that would resonate with the audience as he starts to sing. As leader of the pack, he must have the trademark blue eyes and achieve an equally rich voice — that’s what an excellent Frank Sinatra tribute artist must have.

Aside from Frank, Sammy Davis Jr. is another character we just can’t miss. Despite being the shortest in the group, he still stood out with the power of his voice, great dance moves, and great impressions which are some of the few things he was remembered for.  With Sammy Davis Jr. having a very noticeable and unforgettable character, a good impersonator needs traits similar to his to be a credible Sammy Davis tribute artist.

Finally, Dean Martin was another important member of the Rat Pack for he was the comic. He made people laugh off their seats with his funny lines. Just like the rest of the group, Dean sang well, too. His voice was characterized to be unique and inimitable. And part of his charm was that he was the “drinker” of the group, though that was part of the act and not really alcohol (or so we’ve heard!).

While the cast must bear a striking resemblance to the original characters, the important elements for them to carry out their roles effectively would be possessing the vocal talent, engage in effective training, and they must have some level of passion for the original group. For a show to bring the crowd to their feet, the cast must have the skills and the passion for that to happen.

Art Poco, for example, who plays Dean Martin in the new “Rat Pack Now” show, has dedicated himself to impersonating the music legend. Art had to learn the various mannerisms, actions, and antics necessary for him to really create the persona of Dean. Even now, Art still practices and studies to perfect his Dean Martin tribute show. His striking resemblance to the music icon makes him an excellent choice for the role.

To truly re-create the magic of the Rat Pack, there needs to be a blend of personalities, songs, style, musical arrangements, look, comedy and camaraderie that were the hallmarks of a Rat Pack performance. Each character is a legend in his own right, and their interactions unique. The Rat Pack Now delivers this with a quality that sets this cast apart from all other Rat Pack tribute shows.

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