John J.A. Kreuger Agency

Unforgettable, The Nat King Cole Story

Monroe Kent starred in the hit musical FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE as Nomax in London’s West End Production. His stellar reviews brought him the coveted role of Nat King Cole in the United Kingdom and Far East tours of UNFORGETTABLE. He was also prominently featured in HEY, MR. PRODUCER at the Lyceum Theatre in London. In the United States, Monroe recreated the role of Nomax at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre and at Fords Theatre in Washington, DC. He has also starred in the US National Tours of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ as Andre, and DREAMGIRLS as Curtis Taylor Jr. 

In New York, he appeared as Aaron in the off-Broadway production of BLACK NATIVITY. Joe in SHOWBOAT, the Leading Player in PIPPIN, and Caiphas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR are just a few of his many regional theatre credits. Monroe’s television work ranges from DEAD AIR, an NBC Movie of the Week, and HEY, MR. PRODUCER (seen on PBS), to a number of tapings for the BBC while he was based in London. 

His recordings include a duet with Stephanie Lawrence on her Tim Rice Compilation and the Original Cast Album for Hey, Mr. Producer. Monroe’s solo debut album Black to Broadway was released by Carlton Entertainment in 1998.

NAT “KING” COLE ... THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE MUSIC ... is brought to blazing life in UNFORGETTABLE.

Written by Clarke Peters (the creator of Five Guys Named Moe), this rousing new musical was a smash hit on the London stage and in major engagements throughout the United Kingdom, Japan and the Far East. Enthusiastic response to last year’s North American tour necessitated a second season for UNFORGETTABLE, The Nat King Cole Story in the United States.

UNFORGETTABLE is Nat “King” Cole’s phenomenal life story. The son of an Alabama preacher … the soft spoken jazz pianist who becomes a worldwide singing sensation ... the first performer of color to star in his own national TV program ... Nat “King” Cole was a beloved superstar whose appeal transcended the boundaries of race, culture and geography.

He won the love of millions with the ease of his down-to-earth personality and the most recognizable American voice since Sinatra. The whole story is here ... his piano-playing days in low down dives and honky-tonks, his breakthrough contract with Capital Records, his fight against racism at the studio and in his own Hollywood neighborhood, his television triumphs and worldwide tours.

The songs are here too ... incredible hits like Mona Lisa, Route 66, Too Young, Paper Moon, and the classic Unforgettable ... all caressed in the rich, warm style that is indelibly Nat “King” Cole.

Monroe Kent III, star of London’s Five Guys Named Moe and North American tours of Dreamgirls and Ain’t Misbehavin’, headlines UNFORGETTABLE. Internationally recognized, he has already won wide-ranging praise for this portrayal of Cole in the United Kingdom and the Far East. Perhaps the critic for The Independent said it best when he wrote “Nat King Cole is perfectly performed by the velvet-voiced Monroe Kent ... he is irresistible.”


RAVES FOR THE AMERICAN PREMIERE

“Monroe Kent is nothing short of masterful when incarnating the men, and in one magnificent moment, women in Cole’s life. The great tunes of UNFORGETTABLE -- ‘Route 66', ‘Too Young’, ‘Nature Boy’, ‘Stardust’, ‘Mona Lisa’ and the title song – are all tied together with anecdotes and vignettes that engage the audience as strongly as the melodies please them. Kent and the band create an ambience which the scenic and lighting designs aid with their velvet curtains and sparkle. This is a show that lacks only for table side martini service to make it divine.
The Troy Record

“The show’s creators are blessed in having the talented Monroe Kent as Cole and as other people in Cole’s life. His speaking voice is richly textured and his transitions from one character to the next are seamless. Kent is shrewd enough, and skilled enough, to evoke Cole’s style without mimicking it. He sings extraordinarily well and he is supported by a first rate trio.”
The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA

“We are always interested in what’s happening onstage thanks to the brilliant performance of Monroe Kent III. And then there’s the singing. As the script explores Cole’s TV show and night club act, ‘Besame Mucho’, ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘Let There Be Love’ and ‘Unforgettable’ get a terrific treatment. A large dollop of comedy, some drama, and a whole lot of finely delivered music are what this offering is all about.”
The Schenectady Gazette

“Nat King Cole is played by Monroe Kent III in a dazzling representation of Nat’s stature. Kent looks quite a bit like Cole and even sings (beautifully) in the entertainer’s style. The songs flow effortlessly and practically had the audience swooning over the proceedings, so true were they to the unforgettable Cole approach. Backed by a delicious trio, Monroe Kent III is a consummate performer and will make you feel for two solid hours that Nat Cole is back – and magnificent as ever.”
National Public Radio