Rat Pack tribute to visit Sunset Theater

ASHEBORO — The famous Rat Pack, featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., among others, held the attention of a generation of Americans the way single-name stars do today.

Their popularity, like that of entertainers like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, outlived them and others have picked up their mantle to continue their legacies.

One such group, The Rat Pack Now, will be in Asheboro on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Ave.

Tickets are $25 for orchestra seating and $20 for balcony seating.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online at https://RatPackChristmas.eventbrite.com or in-person at the Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Services Office, 241 Sunset Avenue.

Members of this group include Art Poco as Dean Martin, Ben Bagby as Sammy Davis Jr. and Bob Hoose as Frank Sinatra. Here’s a look at each:

Art Poco is the writer-producer of “The Rat Pack Now.” In addition to this show’s current 17-year run, he’s previously toured locally, regionally, nationally and abroad with his original productions, “Lucy, We Have Company!” and “My Big Fat Italian Wedding,” plus his many custom-designed tribute shows for the corporate entertainment and special events markets. Some of his notable recurrent appearance locations include Miami Beach’s The Fontainebleau, The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Universal Studios Orlando, The Rice in Houston, JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and The Breakers Palm Beach. He has performed in plays and musicals from Off Broadway to regional theatres and even did a short stint as a standup comic. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and was a member of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre’s Comedy Corps in New York. Art is a distinguished member of SAG-AFTRA with commercial and industrial film credits.

Ben Bagby was a featured tap dancer in the Original Broadway Cast of “My One & Only” and a performer in the First National Tour of “Dreamgirls.“ His film credits include a featured dancer role in “The Blues Brothers” and in “EDDIE” starring Whoopi Goldberg. Ben’s choreography credits include television commercials for Levi’s 501 Jeans, Harrah’s Casino New Orleans and Mazda. He has performed on cruise ships for Royal Caribbean and Carnival and in productions of AIDA, Chicago, Spelling Bee, The Wiz, HairSpray, The Life, Smokey Joe’s Cafe and West Side Story. Ben has recorded lead vocals for several indie labels and is an acting and voice coach when he’s not performing. 

Bob Hoose has fronted the Woody Herman Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Gene Krupa Orchestra and the Palm Beach Pops. He also founded the Bob Hoose Orchestra, playing dates in Florida, the U.S. and Canada. Their album “Something Old, Something New” received national airplay, and one of Bob’s original songs, “It’s With Me” was chosen for use in two feature films, “The Heist” and “Off the Chain.” He also plays lead guitar with a Journey-Styx tribute band.

For questions or more information, please call our office at 336-626-1240, ext. 1. No refunds or exchanges will be available.