Sonata hangs up Sinatra hat, returns to Barberton theater with 'Tuesdays with Morrie'

Michael Sonata of Canton has retired from his career singing a Frank Sinatra tribute show but he's not giving up the stage.

The performer, 71, is shifting his focus back to live theater after working full-time for the last 16 years crooning as "Ol' Blue Eyes" throughout Northeast Ohio, including monthly at the Music Box in Cleveland, and throughout the Midwest.

Sonata is actually the stage name for this performer, who was born Michael O'Brien. Next week, he'll have a homecoming at Magical Theatre Company in Barberton, co-starring in the popular drama "Tuesdays with Morrie."

His journey to producing his own Frank Sinatra tribute show came about through a fateful theater gig when he was in his 50s. He was cast in a murder mystery in 2005 at the former Lolli's restaurant in Canton in a spoof of "The Sopranos" called "The Contraltos."

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He played a character loosely based on Sinatra, named Frank Sonata. Actor Sonata, who had sung mostly in choral groups, including the University of Notre Dame Glee Club, meticulously researched Sinatra's style of singing for his re-creation of the "Chairman of the Board" for the murder mystery.

His impersonation wowed audiences. That led to Sonata recording some Sinatra tunes as a Christmas gift for his wife, Lisa, in the home studio of his neighbor friend, music producer Don Dixon.

After that, Dixon suggested he expand his Sinatra repertoire to create a one-man show. Sonata, who was working as a massage therapist at the time, was looking for a career transition. He asked murder mystery playwright Jan Kennedy if he could take his character's last name Sonata as his stage name going forward, keeping his own first name.

The rest is history.

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Sonata's act got to the point where he had more than 100 Sinatra tunes in his repertoire and played 50 or 60 tribute shows a year. The show was a full-time job, not only performing but also handling all of the bookings, procuring band musicians, making travel arrangements and doing social media.

"That part of the business I was just tired of," Sonata said of the logistics. He also won't miss all the equipment schlepping and the late nights coming home from gigs.

What did Sonata learn singing Sinatra for 16 years?

"I think the thing I learned most from looking at his life and everything was that if you just stick with it and if you have a modicum of talent, you can make a go of it. He had a lot more chutzpah than I did," he said.

"He was complex. He was loved and hated by lots of different people. So I try not to focus so much on the darker sides of Sinatra as opposed to his better side."

Sonata's tribute act focuses most on Sinatra's tunes from the '50s and '60s.

Time to travel for Sonata, wife, dog

Retiring his Sinatra act means Sonata can now pick his local theater gigs and also travel around the country in his RV with his wife and their dog, Rudy.

"I think I'll miss some of the performing," Sonata said.

His retirement from the tribute act isn't a complete hard stop. The performer said he still has a couple Sinatra shows "in the pipeline."

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'Tuesdays with Morrie' at Magical Theatre in Barberton

Now, Sonata is playing beloved sociology professor Morrie Schwartz in "Tuesdays with Morrie," adapted from the New York Times bestselling memoir by Mitch Albom. Public performances run Friday through Jan. 29.

When Magical Theatre Company director Dennis O'Connell called Sonata about the opportunity to play Brandeis University professor Morrie, Sonata jumped at the chance.

"It's just a great little show," he said of the 90-minute, one-act play.

Albom's 1995 memoir, which had a special 25th anniversary edition last year, was adapted into a TV film in 1999 and a stage play in 2002.

It's Sonata's first time back at the professional Barberton theater in five years, where he last played Otto Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank" in 2017. He's also been seen on the Magical stage multiple times as Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and Old Man in "A Christmas Story," plus performed in "To Kill a Mockingbird" and in "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

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Playing Morrie is a meaty, difficult role as Morrie gives his favorite student, Mitch, valuable lessons on life as the professor is dying from Lou Gehrig's disease.

"I just thought this would be a great role to tackle," Sonata said.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is Sonata's first two-man show, where he is on stage with co-star Adam Hoffman as narrator Mitch most of the time. Sonata feels a little rusty but rehearsals are coming along nicely, he said.

As he's deteriorating, Morrie teaches his former student a "last class" about his final lessons on life.

Mitch, a hot shot sports writer from the Detroit Free Press, had not been in contact with his beloved professor for 16 years but reached out to him after seeing Morrie talk on "Nightline" about his journey toward death from ALS. Mitch visits Morrie at his home in Massachusetts each Tuesday in Morrie's final months.

"He is one of those fellas who wears his heart on his sleeve and is like the eternal optimist," Sonata said of Morrie.

The play tells a powerful story of friendship across generations between Mitch, 37, and Morrie, 78. It also explores themes of forgiveness, emotional healing and living a meaningful life.

"It makes me wonder how many other 'Mitches' did Morrie have along his long career at school," Sonata said of those Morrie mentored closely. "What I think he got Mitch to do is finally allow love to come in, and not just for himself."

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Drama: "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Where: Magical Theatre Company, 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Jan. 28; 2 p.m. Jan. 29

Onstage: Adam Hoffman and Michael Sonata

Offstage: Based on the memoir by Mitch Albom; Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher, stage adaptation; Dennis O'Connell, director; Ben Needham, scenic designer; Inda Blatch-Geib, costume designer; Adam Ditzel, lighting designer; Jeremiah Isley, sound designer; Stephen Vasse-Hansell, technical director; Deb Lemire, props; Stephen Estep, original music

Cost: $18-$20

Information: www.magicaltheatre.org or 330-848-3708

Age: Recommended for those ages 12 and older

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sonata hangs up Sinatra hat, dives into play 'Tuesdays with Morrie'