Dayton Welcomes Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical

Online, February 17, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Victoria Theatre Association presents the world premiere of TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL, a musical about the inspiring life of legendary singer and actress Rosemary Clooney, playing February 21 - March 4, at the historic Victoria Theatre. TENDERLY is a product of the annual collaboration between Victoria Theatre Association (VTA) and The Human Race Theatre Company (HRTC).

For tickets call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630, 888-228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or visit the Box Office in person, located in the Wintergarden of the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

Co-authors Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, who worked together on many projects, including Green Gables presented as part of VTA's 2004-2005 Broadway Series, felt the story of Rosemary Clooney was a story they felt needed to be told.

"Everything appealed to us about the potential work," say Vogt and Friedman, "from Rosie's amazing personal story and her journey through very difficult times followed by a wonderful comeback - to the beautiful music that became her signature songs as an artist - to the fact that her roots are right here in Ohio and Kentucky. She faced many, many difficult times, some very heartbreaking, but she rose above it all and came out a winner. Her life is a lesson in overcoming obstacles and still being grateful, hopeful, and full of life. "

TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL is the 22nd show The Human Race Theatre Company has produced for the Victoria Theatre Association's Broadway Series. It is an intimate two-actor play starring Tory Ross as Rosemary Clooney and Scott Stoney as The Doctor, Friends and Family of Rosemary, and is directed by Kevin Moore.

Tory Ross, a graduate of The Miami Valley School and the University of Cincinnati's Cincinnati Conservatory of Music plays the role of Rosemary Clooney. Tory has most recently been seen on stage in the touring production of the Broadway smash hit WICKED as the understudy for Madame Morrible and as part of the ensemble. She has also performed on Broadway in Irving Berlin's White Christmas and 9 to 5: The Musical.

Local actor Scott Stoney is a familiar face in Dayton and is an artist-in-residence with The Human Race Theatre Company known for his on-stage roles at the Loft and the Victoria Theatre. Victoria shows include among others Shenandoah, Wait Until Dark, The Boys Next Door, and Green Gables. His most recent productions for The Human Race Theatre Company include Permanent Collection, Twelfth Night, August: Osage County, and Brother Wolf.

About Rosemary Clooney
Clooney's singing career began in April 1945 when she and her sister Betty auditioned for Radio Station WLW in Cincinnati where they sang during the "Crossroads Cafe" show and then performed on "Moon River" with Hap Lee as organist. In 1946, the Clooney sisters began touring with the Tony Pastor Orchestra until 1949 when Rosemary moved to New York to begin her solo career as a singer and actress.

In 1951, Clooney recorded her trademark song, "Come On-a My House," which lead to recordings of "Mambo Italiano," "Tenderly," "Half as Much," "Hey There" and "This Ole House." Some of her more famous movies include Red Garters (1954) and White Christmas (1954).

Clooney was a devoted wife to Jose Ferrer (whom she married twice) and mother to their five children Miguel, Maria, Gabriel, Monsita and Rafael. In 1997, she married long-time friend Dante DiPalo. Clooney's career spanned several decades and continued to perform until her death in 2002.

For tickets call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630, 888-228-3630, online at www.ticketcenterstage.com or visit the Box Office in person, located in the Wintergarden of the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

The 2011-2012 Premier Health Partners Broadway Series presentation of TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL receives support from Leadership Sponsor WHIO-TV, a product of CMGO. Additional support is provided from Performance Sponsor Command Roofing Company and Entrepreneurship Sponsorship Circle Sponsors Perfection Group, Inc. and WDPR-FM88.1 and WDPG-FM89.9.

For more information on the 2011-2012 Premier Health Partners Broadway Series and the rest of the Victoria Theatre Association's season, visit www.victoriatheatre.com.