Off-Broadway Musical Mack the Knife: The Life and Music of Bobby Darin

Chaz Esposito plays the illustrious Bobby Darin in the interactive off-Broadway musical Mack the Knife at the Ivoryton Playhouse which is playing from June 14 to June 25, 2006 in Ivoryton, Connecticut. This was a limited visit show. This is actually one of many theater’s they visited. 

Yes, Ivoryton is small, and if you sneeze while driving through town, you could miss the theater and a place to park. The theater has 444 seats, 342 of them that are in orchestra. The playhouse was built in 1908 and has staged performances from June Lockhart, Celeste Holm, Alan Alda, Katherine Hepburn, Marlon Brando and June Allyson. 

Originally this building was suppose to be a employee recreation hall and probably would have been torn down if not for Milton Stiefel, an actor, who later became the right hand man of David Belasco, one of the greatest directors produced by American theater. The Ivoryton was the first self-supporting summer theater in the nation, although it is not the oldest theater. Most theaters were endowed by foundations of wealthy families. 

This musical tells the story of his life from the Hollywood perspective using his classic rock and roll hits starting in 1958 with “Splish Splash”, “Dream Lover,” “Things,” “Queen of the Hop” to “You are My Sunshine” and if you know the music you can’t help but want to sing and tap your foot to the music. For anyone who owned any of his 45s growing up you will probably be brought back some fond memories. 

In 1959, Bobby Darin's hit song Mack The Knife, the title song of this musical, was #1 on the charts for over 22 weeks. There are also interviews and mentions of entertainers he helped with their music such as Wayne Newton. Larry Frenock narrates the story. The story is directed by Chaz Esposito as well as performed, and co-written with musical director Jim Haddon. "MACK THE KNIFE" has the endorsement of the Bobby Darin estate.