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Fans of legendary crooners Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin should get a kick out of "The Rat Pack Lounge," billed as a heaven-sent swingin' new musical.

The show, written by James Hindman and Ray Roderick with musical arrangements by John Glaudini, opens today at Thunder Bay Theatre. It contains more than 30 songs from this famous trio whose upbeat entertainment style and smooth musical/comedy routines wowed a generation of listeners.

"These were three entertainers who stood on a stage with only themselves, a band and a mike," said TBT Artistic Director Mark Butterfuss. "Unlike today where there are all sorts of pyrotechnics and back-up dancers, it was just them and the world loved them."

As the show opens, Frank, Sammy and Dean are up in heaven where God tells them they have some unfinished business on earth. It seems that 30 years ago, Frank made an unfulfilled promise about nightclub owner Vic Candelino (Butterfuss takes on this role). Frank had promised that Vic would one day be a star, but stardom never happened, and now Vic is on the brink of committing suicide.

At the urging of God, the famous trio descends to Vic's lounge and inhabits the bodies of three men who happen to be on the premises. Sinatra takes over the person of a real estate developer (played by J.R. Rodriguez), who plans to buy the lounge to build a Hooters next door. Deno takes charge of a limo driver (played by Jason Metcalf) and Sammy occupies the body of a janitor (played by John Mervini).

Later, the real estate developer's female assistant is also possessed by a character called Angel, based loosely on the Rat Pack's sometime gal pals, Angie Dickinson or Ann Margaret. Jennifer Carter fills this role.

The redemption plan hatched by the Rat Pack is to transform the hapless Vic into a such a terrific entertainer that his club will be revived along with his spirits.

Along the way, Frank, Sammy and Dean, plus Angie, belt out many of the familiar tunes that helped make them famous, including "My Way," "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime."

"There's a total of 33 songs in the show. Some are little snippets of songs," Butterfuss said. "There is not one thing that people's won't know."

According to Butterfuss, the show doesn't turn on whether the three actors playing the parts of Frank, Sammy and Dean look like them.

"They don't have to look like the three of them, just make people believe that they took over the bodies of other people. These are not impersonations by any means," said Butterfuss, who counts it a thrill to have heard Sinatra perform at his last concert.

Only five characters appear in "The Rat Pack Lounge," with all five performed by the members of TBT's core company. Butterfuss, along with acting in the show, serves as director. Metcalf also does double-duty as technical director.

Serving as music director and pianist is Bunny Lyon, while musicians Greg Adamus on drums and Kaitlyn Tomasezewski on sax provide additional musical accompaniment. On props is Carter and light board operator is Scott Edgar.

Butterfuss said reservations for the show already are filling up quickly.

"It's a cute show. It really is," Butterfuss said. "It's also clean entertainment and clean humor something you don't get today in concerts musicwise. Reservations are filling up fast."

Performances of "The Rat Pack Lounge" are slated for Aug. 5-23 with show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. For reservations, call the TBT box office at 354-2267.