Nostalgic cabaret series comes to Lewes this fall

The Cinema Art Theater outside Lewes is welcoming a new cabaret series to the stage this fall. With songs from iconic figures in history to Italian-American melodies, there will be plenty of entertaining shows for people to watch.

The cabaret series, produced by Lazy Mary Productions, begins with its first performance “A Night With Frank and Ella.” This show will pay homage to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, two renowned singers. Fitzgerald will be played by Donna Tucker-Jones, while Sinatra will be portrayed by Paul Maisano.

Maisano has been the creative force behind the shows, working on organizing the songs to fit the performers. While creating the show, he wanted to figure out how to present it.

“’Frank and Ella’ is more of a presentational show [like] if we were in a small room like a cabaret and seeing those two great people,” Maisano said. 

For the performance, Maisano wants audiences to have a good time and remember the past.

“I am sure that a lot of these people, and the songs that we are doing, are a part of their soundtrack. Whether it was peripheral or all of the time,” he said.

Some of the songs in the Frank and Ella show contain a duet between Sinatra and Fitzgerald titled “Can’t we be friends?” as well as Sinatra’s “That’s Life” and “My Way.” 

Tucker-Jones is looking forward to playing her part as Fitzgerald. At first, she felt the role was challenging, but she recognized it would be exciting.

“I told [Maisano] that I wanted to be stretched more with my gift, and this is stretching,” she said.

After working in musical theater for many years in New York, Maisano hopes to bring a new entertainment option for the off season.

“A Night With Frank and Ella” will hit the stage Saturday, Oct. 19. For more information, go to lazymaryproductions.com.