Gina Guarino* as Rosemary Clooney and Tony Blosser* as Doctor and other characters in “Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical” (Photo by Bailey Crawford)
One moment he’s the Doctor, the next he’s Frank Sinatra. Then Rosemary’s mother, then someone else entirely. In Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Story, Tony Blosser* makes it feel effortless, even as the work underneath it is anything but simple.
That kind of transformation doesn’t come from quick costume changes or theatrical tricks. It comes from precision, instinct, and an actor willing to stretch himself until the lines between characters feel almost invisible.
In contrast to his previous roles in larger ensemble casts, including The Phoenix Theatre Company’s productions of Book of Will, West Side Story, and Something Rotten!, the intimacy of this production has shaped how he approaches the rapid-fire character work.
What emerges isn’t a string of impressions, but something more cohesive, a throughline shaped by a deep love of craft, expressed in many different ways.
We sat down with Blosser* to discuss his process and what it takes to shift, seamlessly, from one life to the next:
Q: The Doctor transforms into many characters from Rosemary’s mother, Frank Sinatra, to Bing Crosby and more. How do you keep each one distinct when the transitions happen so fast?
Blosser: Whenever I am asked to perform multiple characters, which happens often , I initially try to find the character that is the “baseline,” the one that is the closest to myself, the one with the largest arc and make them the jumping off point for everyone else. Once that character is defined, I start playing with all the others.
I make a big, and often silly, choice to cement them in my head, whether by playing around with physical traits (gait, stance, gesticulations, demeanor) or vocal characteristics (pitch, tone, dialects, cadence). Once I have those set, I continue exploring those choices to make them feel more natural.
Q: What draws you to roles that ask you to shape-shift like this?
Blosser: I love the challenge! I like to push myself to see if I can convey the image I have of all the different characters to an audience. Whenever I hear someone comment on a character shift, I am thrilled to know it worked, and, if someone says they didn’t realize it was me right away, all the better!
Tony Blosser and Bonnie Beus Romney in Book of Will, part of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s 22/23 Season (Photo by Reg Madison)
Q: You’ve been on the TPTC stage several times now. What feels different about this one?
Blosser: The intimacy. My previous shows have all had larger casts, so I felt the intimacy of Tenderly right from the start. Every aspect of the show from the performance space to the events that happen invites you to lean forward and be a part of the story.
Q: What do you want audiences to take away from the Doctor’s side of Rosemary’s story?
Blosser: I hope the audience sees the love that drives the Doctor, and really all of the characters, however it’s conveyed. Whether it’s supportive, confrontational, jovial, or needing to “put your own mask on before assisting others,” most of it comes from love. And, if I get a few “Wows!” along the way, I wouldn’t hate that!
Event Details
What: Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical
When: March 4 – May 3, 2026
Where: The Phoenix Theatre Company, Judith Hardes Theatre, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Tickets: Available at www.phoenixtheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at (602) 254-2151
*Courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.
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