Tony Danza’s Sinatra cabaret at Cafe Carlyle sells out as he recalls Frank Sinatra and New York nights

Tony Danza’s Sinatra-themed cabaret at Cafe Carlyle in New York City is selling out nightly, with dates through Oct. 2. The 74-year-old former Taxi and Who’s the Boss star performs in Sinatra and Stories, a four-piece-band cabaret that blends standards with reminiscences from a decades-long friendship with Frank Sinatra.

Among the stories Danza shares is a recollection from Sinatra’s 1995 televised 80th birthday tribute. He recalls a moment when Sinatra, perched on high steps, reacted sharply; Danza helped steady him, and longtime confidant Jilly Rizzo offered a forgiving nod that it was simply Frank being Frank.

Set up like a variety show, the act lets Danza operate as both host and master of ceremonies for a rotating collection of songs and anecdotes. He says the idea is to mirror old show formats where a single host guides multiple acts on stage, blending music with personal reminiscences.

Long before the Carlyle engagement, Danza grew up in Brooklyn listening to Sinatra, then found his way into acting after boxing and a scholarship. His life intersected with Sinatra when he moved to Hollywood and entered the singer’s circle; a notable moment came on the set of Who’s the Boss in 1989, when Sinatra guest-starred and later gave Danza’s mother his handkerchief in a gesture of appreciation.

Ticket buyers have packed Cafe Carlyle for that intimate experience, and Danza has expressed sustained disbelief at the popularity. The club continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary while Danza’s run remains among the most reliably sold-out shows in New York nightlife.

Beyond performing, Danza leads the Stars of Tomorrow Project, an NYC-based mentorship initiative offering free acting, voice, dance and movement lessons to youths in need. The organization will hold its third annual benefit at the Sheen Center in Greenwich Village on Oct. 14, with Danza co-chairing alongside Danny DeVito. Program alumni have gone on to college and some toward Broadway careers.

In addition to Carlyle, Danza keeps a visible presence around the city’s nightlife. He cites Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, Manny’s Bistro, 54 Below, Gallagher’s Steakhouse, Frankie and Johnnie’s, Sardi’s, Birdland and Bemelmans Bar as favorites or regular stops when he’s in town, reflecting a long-running habit of mixing dining with live performance.

The Carlyle’s intimate setting is a natural fit for Danza’s approach. He treats the show as a fusion of a host’s patter and musical numbers, with a cadence that nods to mid-century variety programs while delivering a distinctly modern NYC nightlife experience. The 70th anniversary of the Carlyle hotel adds another layer of reverence to a venue where legends have long entertained discerning audiences.

Danza’s Sinatra-centered act is part performance and part memory lane, a blend that has proven durable in a city where live music and storytelling remain tightly interwoven. The singer-actor notes that his longevity in the business is buoyed by a faithful fan base who have followed him from early television stardom to the intimate clubs of the Upper East Side.

On the nights when he’s not at the Carlyle, Danza’s New York flyer includes a mix of dining and late-night performances at historic stops around town. He describes the continuity of these venues as part of what keeps his craft connected to audiences who grew up with Sinatra’s music and now share the nostalgia for a different era of show business.

The ongoing success of Sinatra and Stories underscores a broader cultural thread: the enduring appeal of the Great American Songbook and the way beloved performers like Frank Sinatra continue to intersect with contemporary nightlife. For Danza, the act is more than nostalgia; it’s a living dialogue between memory and moment, a reminder that stories and songs can still draw packed rooms in a city that never stops listening.