Casting for Rosemary Clooney musical’s UK premiere

Katie Ray will play Rosemary Clooney, one of the 1950s’ biggest female stars, in the UK premiere of Tenderly – The Rosemary Clooney Musical at the New Wimbledon Studio, officially opening next week.

Ray [pictured], who has toured the UK in Million Dollar Quartet and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, will take on the starring role in the show which offers a glimpse into the turbulent personal and professional life of the much-loved star who died in 2001.

Directed by Tania Azevedo, the production which also features Fed Zanni (The 12 Tenors European tour), will play the Wimbledon venue from 1-23 September with a press night on 4 September.

Produced by Joseph Hodges, the production’s creative team includes musical director Daniel Jarvis, with musical staging by Chi-San Howard, design by Anna Yates, lighting by Ali Hunter and casting by Harry Blumenau.

With a book by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, Tenderly offers a poignant portrait of the woman whose warm, sweet voice took her to the top of the charts.

The two-handed show which features the singer and actress’ most famous songs, including ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’, ‘Mambo Italiano’, ‘Sway’ and ‘Hey There’, played its successful premiere run in Dayton, Ohio in 2012.

Fondly remembered as Bing Crosby’s leading lady in the movie classic White Christmas, Clooney first found fame as a Columbia Records recording artist in the 1950s.

As well as starring in her own prime-time TV show, she would often appear with Crosby in his famous TV specials and was one of the most popular singers of the 1950s.

However, the advent of rock‘n’roll meant Clooney’s traditional style fell out of favour and she battled back from depression and addiction during the 1960s, re-inventing herself as a cabaret and jazz singer.

Touring across the country for much of the 1970s and 1980s, the singer would often be accompanied by her nephew George, who she famously employed as a driver. In 1995, she would guest star on E.R. the TV series that launched George Clooney’s career in a role that would win her a nomination for an Emmy Award.

Awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002, Clooney’s personal life was dominated by her tempestuous relationship with movie star Jose Ferrer who she married and divorced twice.

Angela Thomas