We think it’s fair to say that The Dean Martin Hometown Festival 2025 was a resounding success!
Held over three days in Steubenville, starting June 12, 2025, we were delighted to see so many of you there. The Spot Bar was full to the brim for our live shows and the Dino Dash 5k had a fabulous turnout. We had to contend with the weather and a concern regarding the parade, but all in all…memories were made of this.
We’ll be bringing you a full review of the entire event in our next edition of Just Dino (to receive your FREE copy, join our mailing list here, if you haven’t already done so) and we’ll shortly be posting photos on the festival Instagram page.
And finally, if you did get to the festival, we’d love to hear from you with your thoughts and feedback. We may even include your comments in Just Dino #434!
It is with sadness that we announce legendary and iconic comedian Bob Newhart has died, aged 94.
Known for his deadpan style, he was loved by millions, crossing the decades with his humor and warmth. He was well-known for his appearances in Elf and The Big Bang Theory, but it will be us as fans of Dean Martin who will remember him the most, cherishing the moments he shared on screen in The Dean Martin Show. Who can forget “The Driving Instructor” and “The Nudist Camp” sketches, ones where he really took Dean out of his comfort zone! Not many people were able to do that, but Dean found much to admire about Bob’s warmth and humility. ‘He always made me laugh,’ Dean once said. ‘When I knew he was going to be on the show, I knew we’d be in for a good night.’
Bob was awarded with many accolades throughout his career, which began in 1959. He was still working up to 2020, appearing in Young Sheldon, where he reprised his role as TV scientist “Professor Proton”.
We send our deepest, heartfelt condolences to Bob’s family and friends at this most difficult time.
We will be featuring a full tribute to Bob in next month’s Just Dino.
Get ready to swing into the Golden Age of Hollywood and experience the timeless sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr with The Rat Pack Live In Concert. Combining classic hits with incredible performances and captivating storytelling, a talented ensemble of vocalists and musicians will take you on a musical journey through the smooth vocals, infectious rhythms, and unforgettable melodies that made the Rat Pack a global sensation. With outstanding attention to detail, see the Rat Pack’s charisma and flair brought to life and be transported back to the glamorous days of Las Vegas and Hollywood. Featuring all of the Rat Pack’s timeless charm, this is an unforgettable night of entertainment that will have you reminiscing about this legendary legacy.
Based on the hit West End 1999 Flying Music production Frank, Sammy and Dean – The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas, assistant producer for Showplanr Oliver Slee recently met with the DMA: “The aim of this tour is to bring a fresh and younger Frank, Dean and Sammy to new audiences,” he told us. It will still focus on the trio at their peak but, with a younger cast, Showplanr want to bring the Rat Pack’s music to a brand-new audience while still appealing to the older set. They will be on the road covering the UK until their final date for this summer tour on 28 July at Beck Theatre, Hayes.
Joseph O’Brien, who plays Frank Sinatra, is an exciting and dynamic vocalist with many years of experience performing across the UK and beyond in a wide variety of roles. Career highlights include working on his own material with the London production company The Next Room, and performing at the world renowned Sundance Film Festival. Alongside creating his own work, Joseph has a background in musical theatre, as well as being an accomplished guitarist.
Joseph has a real love for Ol’ Blue Eyes, and having performed his own tribute show to the man for many years, he is thrilled to be joining the cast of The Rat Pack Live In Concert to bring his passionate portrayal of Frank to a brand new audience.
Job Pedro Angus, joining Joseph as Sammy Davis Jr., is an actor, musician and dancer based in Coventry. Job trained at Identity School of Acting and Kingdom School of Arts. Job began his professional career at a young age, playing Young Sunny in Daddy Cool (West End) before going on to play Young Simba in The Lion King (West End) and Lost Child in Into the Hoods (West End). Job is also an accomplished musician and creates his own material, specializing in hip hop and dance tracks. Job is thrilled to be playing the legendary Sammy Davis Jr,. and grateful to be given the opportunity to tell his story.
Finally, we have Chris Weeks as Dean Martin. Chris came to Big Band music at a young age, singing with the Bucks County and National Youth Jazz Orchestras in his teens, before joining the two-time BBC Big Band Award winning Oxford University Jazz Orchestra as their male vocalist. He recently played Buddy Holly in the 30th Anniversary production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and is currently the lead singer for The Bluejays, the UK’s finest rock and roll band. Chris also works extensively as a session singer specializing in Jazz, recently featuring on the soundtrack to the Academy Award-nominated film La Memoria Infinita and with guest vocal spots exceeding twenty million streams worldwide.
For more information and tour dates, please visit ShowPlanr.
The DMA’s Thomas Brady and Elliot Thorpe will both be at the 24 July show, and we’ll be bringing you their full reports, reviews and interviews with the cast and crew in Just Dino #426.
THE DEAN MARTIN ASSOCIATION 