Olivier Award winner and West End favourite Jenna Russell has joined the cast of Sinatra The Musical ahead of its West End premiere.
Russell will play Dolly, Frank Sinatra’s mother, in the new musical based on the life and career of the legendary artist and cultural icon.
The production begins performances at the Aldwych Theatre on Wednesday 3 June 2026, with a press night scheduled for Wednesday 24 June.
Russell is currently Olivier-nominated for the fourth time for her performance in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Her extensive theatre credits include Sunday in the Park with George in London and on Broadway, Hello Dolly! at the London Palladium and Flowers for Mrs Harris at Riverside Studios.
She joins the previously announced Joel Harper-Jackson as Frank Sinatra, Ana Villafañe as Ava Gardner and Phoebe Panaretos as Nancy Sinatra.
The full company also includes Oliver Adam-Reynolds, Becky Anderson, Carl Au, Sam Brown, Helen Colby, Emma Crossley, Adam Davidson, Alexander Day, Christopher GoPaul, Stuart Hickey, Jenna Innes, Marty Maguire, Mia Musakembeva, Melissa Nettleford, Samuel Nicholas, Nardia Ruth, Christina Shand, John Stacey, Allana Taylor and Lee Zarrett.
Sylvie Regan, Mia Savident and Felicity Walton will share the role of Little Nancy.
Director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall said: “I’ve been a huge fan of Jenna Russell’s ever since I had the great pleasure of seeing her astonishing performance in Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway. I’m so excited to be collaborating with Jenna and with our entire brilliant cast on Sinatra the Musical. We can’t wait to welcome audiences into Sinatra’s world at the Aldwych Theatre this summer!”
Sinatra The Musical features more than 20 classic songs including That’s Life, One For My Baby, The Best Is Yet To Come and Come Fly With Me.
The musical charts Frank Sinatra’s early rise to fame, his relationships with Nancy Sinatra and Ava Gardner, and his remarkable career comeback.
The book is by two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, with direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall and set design by Olivier Award winner Peter McKintosh.
The production was originally produced at The Birmingham Rep in 2023 and is presented by Frank Sinatra Enterprises in partnership with Universal Music Group Theatrical.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
