Almost like he’s back in town

"Sinatra's Songbook" to be performed at UPAC Auditorium on Saturday, the second installment of the Unity Performing Arts Center series of musical iconic reviews, "Sinatra, All the Way" will be held at its newly remodeled location inside Unity of Bellevue at 8 p.m.

Ol’ Blue Eyes is back, or at least his music is.

On Saturday, the second installment of the Unity Performing Arts Center series of musical iconic reviews, “Sinatra, All the Way” will be held at its newly remodeled location inside Unity of Bellevue at 8 p.m.

The concert features some of Frank Sinatra’s most classic works being performed by Bob De Dea as the Sultan of Swoon along with The Purple Phoenix Orchestra.

The Rev. Nancy Worth said upgrading the sanctuary to include a wider, longer stage — stretching 40 feet — and installing all-new lighting and digital sound equipment wasn’t unanimously accepted by the congregation, but it was most certainly the right decision for the church and the community.

“It’s an opportunity to invite people to this space that may never have come otherwise,” she said. “Whether it’s a play production or a musical concert, it’s giving back to the community and showing them who we are.”

When the idea was first broached several months ago by the church’s technical director and productions manager, Tim Rasmussen, the board immediately saw the potential and the opportunities having such a space available would create.

“They knew it would be a good revenue stream but also a way to get our name out there and get involved in this community,” Rasmussen said. “To do it, however, we needed something top-drawer.”

For Rasmussen, that meant turning to friend and church music director David Duvall, owner of Purple Phoenix Productions.Duvall, who had been producing shows similar to Saturday’s Sinatra showcase in Yakima, and Palm Springs was an easy decision to replicate in Bellevue.

“We had to promise that the stage would be church-ready come Sundays,” and it will, Duvall said. “The rest of the time the space can be whatever anyone wants it to be.”

Construction of the remodeled space began last week and at huge cost savings thanks to Bill Haskett, a general contractor with Schueller Inc., which is completing the project for roughly $13,000, saving the church tens of thousands of dollars.Those involved couldn’t have been more grateful of Schueller’s work, Rasmussen said.

“It’s a perfect, intimate room to perform small stage plays, but also showcase huge musical talent,” he said.

Aside from the Sinatra concert, Duvall, Rasmussen and others are working on several different productions, including “Doubt,” a play set to kick off in November.

Tickets purchased before Saturday are $20 or $15 for students 15 and younger, and can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com or at the door for $25.