Sinatra tribute to replace ‘Panda!’ at Palazzo

Those looking for old-Vegas symbolism can gloat about the Sinatra tribute replacing “Panda!” the Chinese acrobatic and martial arts show. “Panda!” closes Dec. 30, when it will have had nearly a full year’s run.

Anderson and his investors, doing business as Hoboken Productions, financed a May showcase performance in the former “Phantom” theater of the adjacent Venetian. The gamble paid off with an invitation to play the Palazzo for a year, though tickets are so far on sale only through April.

Anderson is well-known to Las Vegas locals as a singing impressionist. He started doing his act at the Dunes in the 1970s but moved to Branson, Mo., in 2002. The new concept hones in solely on Sinatra, with Anderson wearing elaborate makeup in front of a full orchestra helmed by Vince Falcone, the Las Vegas-based arranger and conductor who worked with Sinatra.

The “Frank” show is produced outside of the Sinatra estate. Anderson says the Sinatra family was invited to come on board as partners but declined. The unauthorized product has been vetted by Mark Tratos, the intellectual property attorney who drafted Nevada’s “Legends law,” which set the state’s guidelines for tribute shows such as “Legends in Concert” trading on celebrity likenesses.

The show will be directed by Stephen Eich and the set designed by Kevin Rigdon, both veterans of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

“We’re going to build a beautiful supper club on stage. It’s going to be nothing like the (May) showcase,” Anderson says.

“It’s about the music,” he adds. “He won’t be talking about the Rat Pack or Marilyn Monroe or anything like that. … It’s simply Frank Sinatra, having a nice casual conversation at times with the audience and singing his great songs.”

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.