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<H1>Tom Burlinson, actor, singer, TV host and theatrical producer. Official website,
home of 'Frank - The Sinatra Story in Song' and the star of 'The Man From Snowy
River' </H1>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Welcome to tomburlinson.com.au, my Official Website. Here you
will find information on my work and career as an actor, singer, TV host and
theatrical producer. In 1998 I created and continue to star in a theatrical
show in celebration of the music and career of Frank Sinatra. It's called 'Frank-
The Sinatra Story in Song'. For a brief history of the show, information on
the people involved, and to listen to samples of selected songs from the CD,
click on 'Frank'. The success of the show led to many engagements in corporate
entertainment. For information on what's available and how to make a booking,
click on Corporate Events.If you're interested in 'The Man From Snowy River'
or other movies, TV shows and theatre productions in which I've appeared, click
on the Actor link. You'll find a Career Outline, complete Resume, audio extracts,
quotes, photos and personal reflections on some of my work. For the latest on
what's happening with me, click on News. And of course, if you need to get back
to this page, click on Home.</P>
<P><A HREF="main.html">Click for Homepage</A></P>
<P><A HREF="newactor.html">Click for Actor section</A></P>
<P><a href="newactor.html">Career </a><br>
<a href="newactor2.html">Theatre<br>
</a><a href="newactor3a.html">TV 1</a><br>
<a href="newactor3b.html">TV 2</a> <br>
<a href="newactor4.html">Film 1</a><br>
<a href="newactor5.html">Film 2</a><br>
<a href="newactor6.html">Film 3</a><br>
<a href="newactor7.html">Film 4</a><br>
</P>
<P><A HREF="newcorporate.html">Click for Corporate Events / Entertainment</A></P>
<P><A HREF="frankflash.html">Click for 'Frank - The Sinatra Story in Song'</A></P>
<P><A HREF="http://www.spencer-arts.demon.co.uk/web-gallery.htm">Click for the
latest news about me</A></P>
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<P>ABOUT 'FRANK': My musical theatre show 'Frank - The Sinatra Story in Song'
is essentially a concert in a theatrical setting, divided into two acts. I sing
more than 25 songs from throughout Sinatra's career, accompanied by a 16-piece
band that is on stage with me. I don't impersonate Frank, but I sing very much
in the Sinatra style. Between the songs I talk directly to the audience, providing
biographical details and entertaining anecdotes, always focusing on the music
of the man. These passages help to illustrate the concept that Frank's choice
of material and particular expressions of songs were often a reflection on what
was happening in his life. I am joined at times by two dancers, who also take
the stage for an exciting tap routine to an instrumental version of 'That Old
Black Magic'. Towards the end of the show I talk about the effect that Sinatra
has had on my life and sing a song I wrote in tribute to him called 'The Man
in the Hat'. Then come the final numbers - 'My Way' and, of course, 'New York,
New York'. 'Frank - The Sinatra Story in Song' In February 1998 I performed
in a series of open-air concerts at Taronga Zoo with the Australian Army Band
(Sydney) in 'A Tribute to Frank Sinatra'. As preparation I'd chosen the songs,
had musical arrangements done and written short linking monologue pieces. I'd
also asked my wife, Mandy Carnie and our friend, Keith Hawley, to co-choreograph
and dance in routines to a few of the numbers. This was to provide not only
a different interpretation of the music, but also some energetic visual impact.
These shows were very well supported and became a 'try-out' for a bigger production
I had in mind. My love for the music of Frank Sinatra goes back to my early
childhood. As a young adult I found I could imitate him quite well, due to a
natural similarity in vocal range and tone as well as having a 'good ear' and
doing lots of study and practice. I'd been honoured to be chosen to sing the
voice of the young Frank in the Warner Bros. mini-series 'Sinatra', produced
by Frank's daughter, Tina, in 1992. Now I intended to produce a live show as
a celebration of the music and career of the great man. As I wanted to retain
creative control over the project I decided to produce it myself, so Mandy and
I took a mortgage on our house to finance the initial costs. I employed an established
theatrical producer, Zoltan Koteczky, to assist me in the production effort,
and my agent, John Cann, was also made an Executive Producer. We booked a limited
two-week season in the York Theatre at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. I'd been
encouraged in this endeavour for some time by a musician associate named Ralph
Pyl, a trumpet player who leads the Sydney All Star Big Band, which we engaged.
I also asked pianist Michael Harrison, another musical acquaintance, to be the
Musical Director. We commenced rehearsals of arrangements of Sinatra songs based
on the originals. The song list and monologue links were expanded and another
dance routine was added to what had been done at the Zoo. I employed the services
of Lighting Designer Damien Cooper, Sound Director Dave Cafe, Company Manager
Amanda Ferguson, Publicist Judith Johnson and Box Office Consultant Wendi Todd
who made our initial 'team' complete. Publicity commenced and ticket sales were
well under way when two weeks to the day before we were due to open the world
heard the news that Frank Sinatra had died. The History of the Show The History
of the Show (continued) I didn't know what to do. The show was meant to celebrate
Frank while he was still with us. Now I was well aware that we might be seen
to be 'cashing in' on the man's death, and I took great pains with the media
to explain that this was not the case. However, I must admit that although the
timing was purely coincidental, the ensuing publicity about the passing of one
of the legendary figures of 20th Century entertainment attracted added interest
in my show. We opened on May 29th, 1998. With the benefit of good reviews and
a very positive audience reaction, we were able to extend that initial Sydney
season from two weeks to five and a half, and to make arrangements for a national
tour. The show played successfully at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne, Her Majesty's
in Adelaide, the Civic in Newcastle and the Playhouse at the Queensland Performing
Arts Complex in Brisbane from July to October, 1998. A return to Sydney at the
much larger capacity Capitol Theatre led to sold out performances over two weekends.
An engagement at the Burswood Theatre in Perth in January 1999 completed the
national tour, before a final sell out return season in Melbourne, again at
the Comedy, in February. My wife Mandy had become pregnant in July the previous
year, and consequently our friend Leanne Mauchlan replaced her in the show from
the Adelaide season on. Mandy was now in the late stages of pregnancy, and we
decided to 'put the show to bed' for a while and take some time as new parents.
More than two years later, soon after the birth of our second child in March
2001, we were asked to re-mount 'Frank' for the inaugural Adelaide Cabaret Festival,
held in May. With some changes to our production team and Mandy returning as
our female dancer, we played to capacity houses in the 1900 seat Festival Theatre
over two nights. Then the management at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney invited
us back yet again. We performed 5 shows over two weekends in August/September,
attended by more than 8800 people.</P>
<P>BRIEF CAREER OUTLINE: In 2001 Tom celebrates 25 years as a show business professional.
After graduating from NIDA in 1976, his early work in various productions for
the Queensland Theatre Company, the Old Tote Theatre Company, and the State
Theatre Company of South Australia included roles in ‘The Merchant of Venice’,
‘Da’ and ‘The One Day of the Year’. He co-starred in ‘Tribute’
for Peter Williams Productions in Sydney and Brisbane and played continuing
roles in the TV series ‘Kirbys’ Company’ (ABC) and ‘The
Restless Years’ (Grundy Organisation). In 1981 Tom was cast in the title
role in the feature film ‘The Man from Snowy River’. It was an enormous
box office success, and led to Tom being offered a succession of leading roles
in Australian and international films and mini-series over the next several
years. These included ‘Phar Lap’, ‘Eureka Stockade’, ‘Flesh
and Blood’, ‘Windrider’, ‘Piece of Cake’, and ‘The
Legend of Kootenai Brown’ as well as ‘The Man from Snowy River I I
’. In 1991 Tom sang the voice of the young Frank Sinatra in the Warner
Brothers mini-series ‘Sinatra’. This was his first professional singing
engagement! Soon thereafter he returned to Australia and to the stage to star
in the Gordon Frost production of ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really
Trying’. He was soon working on the international scene again in the mini-series
‘The Way to Dusty Death’, filmed in Europe. In 1995 renowned theatre
director Gayle Edwards cast Tom in a leading role in the acclaimed workshop
production of the Australian musical ‘Miracle City’ for the Sydney
Theatre Company. The following year he was given another chance to further develop
his musical abilities in Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’,
again for the STC. In 1997 Tom hosted the TV series ‘Animal Hospital’
for the Nine Network. He then appeared in concert at Taronga Zoo in ‘A
Tribute to Frank Sinatra’. This prompted Tom to create ‘Frank –
The Sinatra Story in Song’. The initial two week booking at the Seymour
Centre in June 1998 was extended to five weeks, and successful seasons in Melbourne,
Adelaide, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth were followed by sell-out returns at
the Capitol Theatre in Sydney and the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne. The success
of ‘Frank’ led to Tom being kept busy performing in concert at a variety
of venues for charities, corporations and other organisations around the country
throughout 1999 and 2000. In May 2001, he was asked to remount 'Frank' for the
Adelaide Cabaret Festival, playing to sell-out houses once again. The following
August Tom returned to the Capitol Theatre, Sydney for yet another very successful
season of the show.</P>
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