"I've really become a fan. I don't think there's a person who can resist a big band. The whole thing is so joyful, and it's in the pit of your stomach, and then you layer it with great singing and wonderful lyrics, and it's just some of the finest music ever written."

"The Rat Pack: Live at the Sands" opened in London to rave reviews and ran for four-and-a-half years.

"We were worried when we did the first American tour," said Sebastian, who added that the fact British actors were performing as American royalty was not lost on them. "Everybody felt the pressure, but it's well-crafted, and the actors had done their work and studied these men."

"The audiences went crazy for it," Sebastian said. But he noted an interesting difference in American audiences versus London crowds: "An American audience is more committed to having a good time. They've bought the ticket, go to dinner and they expect to have a great time. A British audience buys a ticket and says, 'This better be good, I paid for it.'"

"The first time we came over here, the actors just said, 'Wow this amazing, they're clapping at the beginning of numbers, too' — they were going crazy."

"There's such a wonderful energy in the house," Sebastian continued. "It really is a party, especially in America. It's joyful to watch everyone having such a great night."

If you go

What: "The Rat Pack: Live at the Sands," national tour

Where: Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah

When: Tuesday through Oct. 12

How much: $30-$52.50

Phone: 801-581-7100

Web: www.KingTix.com

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E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com