Hey Mambo: Stars announced for Rosemary Clooney musical Tenderly

21 Jul
2017
Posted in: Theatre News
Author: Staff
hey-mambo-stars-announced-for-rosemary-clooney-musical-tenderly
Katie Ray and Fed Zanni star in Tenderly

Hey mambo, mambo italiano, hey mambo... Katie Ray takes the title role in this September's UK premiere of TENDERLY - The Rosemary Clooney Musical, which tells the fascinating life story of the 1950s American star.

Casting has been announced for the UK premiere of Tenderly – The Rosemary Clooney Musical, which has a limited season at the New Wimbledon Studio from 1 to 23 September 2017, with press night on 4 September.

Tenderly, the Rosemary Clooney Musical with book by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman offers a fresh, remarkably personal and poignant portrait of the woman whose unparalleled talent and unbridled personality made her a legend. Rosemary Clooney’s journey starts in Maysville, Kentucky and portrays her rise to stardom in Hollywood, and continues beyond battles with depression to a triumphant comeback. Through it all she topped the charts for nearly five decades.

We learn through her music of her life and her success on film, radio and television and the struggles in personal life. Rock 'n' roll came on the scene and her genre of music was no longer as popular, which didn't help in her battle with addiction and depression. However, Rosemary was always a fighter and fought back with an even more successful career as a jazz singer.

The show features Rosemary Clooney’s hit songs including “Hey There”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “Sway” and “Mambo Italiano”.

Katie Ray will star as the iconic Rosemary Clooney whose recent theatre credits include Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet (UK Tour), Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Liesl in The Sound of Music (London Palladium), and the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (New London Theatre).

Fed Zanni will play Clooney’s Doctor amid other roles including Clooney’s lovers. His recent theatre credits include The 12 Tenors (European Tour), Somewhere in England (New Wimbledon Theatre) and Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Tenderly is directed by Tania Azevedo, with musical direction from Daniel Jarvis, musical staging by Chi-San Howard, design by Anna Yates, lighting by Ali Hunter and casting by Harry Blumenau. The production is produced by Joseph Hodges.