Returning to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park after its sold-out, extended debut in 2014, the Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre proudly presents Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman. Using Ms. Clooney’s autobiographies and stories from contacts who were witness to some of her experiences (including her brother, noted journalist and television host Nick Clooney), Ms. Vogt and Mr. Friedman have written a very honest and beautiful story about a beloved singer and artist who got her professional start in our very own Queen City.
The Production Team
Director and Choreographer Michael Marotta (who himself originated the role of The Doctor) knocks this staging out of the park. It is perfectly conducive to the half-round set up of the Shelterhouse while keeping a necessary intimacy in its execution. Set Design by Tamara L. Honesty is ideal. The magnificent musical trio of Matthew Umphreys, Nick Greenberg, and Brian Malone are housed farthest upstage behind a lavish sheer curtain reminiscent of a Hollywood nightclub. Ms. Honesty’s choices of furniture and fixtures are solid, time-period appropriate, and smartly mobile.
Much-deserved shoutout to Costume Designer Gordon DeVinney for excellence in creating looks where the audience clearly sees the Rosemary Clooney we have witnessed in media. Each of her ensembles looks as though Mr. DeVinney raided her personal wardrobe. The Doctor’s accessories perform double-duty: aesthetically satisfying while serving the actor well when a change of character takes place.
Performing Artists
It can be a tall order to play an actual person who has indelible characteristics which an audience will expect to see (or hear). Stepping into Rosie’s proverbial shoes is the very capable Mollie Vogt-Welch. Her voice offers the molasses-esque quality of the iconic singer and adeptly embodies Rosemary’s confident and poised manner. We get to see the softer side behind the icon as she discusses her younger years in Maysville, KY and her first radio gig at Cincinnati’s WLW. Ms. Vogt-Welch does not miss a beat: she is funny, charming, sympathetic, and effortlessly lovable.
In the role of The Doctors/Others, Sam Simahk is genius. He switches between characters seamlessly and offers each their own special moment, taking on titans like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra with an assured flair. Like his stage partner, Mr. Simahk is a fine singer and dancer and has an innate likability. I believe most of us would pay to simply hear him read the Apple Terms & Conditions.
As a duo, Ms. Vogt-Welch and Mr. Samahk have mad chemistry. Further, each wisely chooses to give enough of an essence of the famous people they portray without getting hung up on exact appearances or going so far as to move into the realm of caricature.
The Sweet and Lowdown
There are so many things to love about Rosemary Clooney and Tenderly gives us so many more. In an age where mental health was not discussed or even acknowledged openly, she had to overcome the stigmas of being a “crazy person” or going to a “looney bin”. Thanks to good friends she kept due to her endearing character along with her determination to be her best self, she survived what could have previously been insurmountable odds. Her story, along with the nostalgic soundtrack of her hits (such as “Come On-a My House,” “Hey There,” “Sisters,” “Paper Moon” and of course “Tenderly”) makes for an enjoyable and entertaining visit to the theatre.
Get Tickets to Tenderly
Playhouse in the Park’s presentation of Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical runs now through May 17th, 2026. For more information about the production and to purchase tickets, please visit here.
