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For more than 30 years, John Kiesewetter has been the source for information about all things in local media — comings and goings, local people appearing on the big or small screen, special programs, and much more. Contact John at johnkiese@yahoo.com.

Getting To Know Rosie Red Amy Burgess From Inside Out

John Kiesewetter
Rosie Red and me at the Reds Hall of Fame

Update Tuesday March 20: Have a listen to my interview with Amy Burgess from Sunday's "Around Cincinnati" below.   

Original post Thursday, March 15: Rosie Red doesn't talk. So let's just say Amy Burgess, a local choreographer and actor, knows everything about Rosie from the inside out.

With Opening Day fast approaching, I asked Amy to come to WVXU-FM and talk about creating and performing as the Reds' popular female mascot for Around Cincinnati this Sunday, March 18, at 7 p.m.   (After the show airs, I'll put a link to the audio here.)

Credit John Kiesewetter
Amy Burgess visits WVXU-FM without her Rosie Red costume.

I'm fascinated by Rosie Red's ability to convey excitement, empathy, and other emotions without saying a word or making any facial expressions. She's a very talented mime.

I hope she doesn't get a big head.

When the Reds added the Rosie character 11 years ago, the club hired Burgess, a five-year veteran of the "Rally Pack" cheerleaders/entertainers at Great American Ball Park. The Anderson Township resident also had filled in as Gapper. Yes, I said Gapper.

Before Rosie's GABP debut, Burgess was invited to film some Reds promotions with Gapper, Mr. Red and Mr. Redlegs. "Then they gave me the (Rosie) suit when I left the taping," she said. "They told me to practice. So I practiced the kind of stuff that I thought the Rosie character would do."

Credit John Kiesewetter
Mascots Rosie Red and Gapper communicate with a wave, dance or a tilt of the head.

The characteristics she improvised for Rosie, rehearsing in her living room, remain the core of the Reds' only female mascot.

"I decided she was a little bit sassy, a little bit spunky. I wanted her to be able to hold her own with the boys, kind of A League Of Their Own quality," Burgess said, referring to the 1992 Geena Davis-led flick about women who play professional baseball as men get deployed during World War II. 

Credit John Kiesewetter
A young fan sits in Rosie's lap during a program at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum in January.

"But I also wanted her to have a nourishing side to her, where she could take care of kids, and kind of be mom-ish to the other mascots."

Burgess, an Anderson High School graduate, is married with two young daughters. She took dance lessons as a girl, and earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Miami University.

When she's not romping around as Rosie, she choreographs school and community theater productions.  Amy and her husband, Jason Burgess, a Highlands High School drama teacher, also run the non-profit CAST (Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre) that will produce two shows this summer with area high school students.

I had a delightful conversation with her. Here's a sneak peek:

BEST FEELING: "There's nothing really sweeter than seeing like, a 100-yard dash from a little girl who has waited all week to see you, and just barrels into you for a big hug.  I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. "

Credit Joseph Kiesewetter
Rosie, Gapper and Mr. Redlegs congratulate Howard Wilkinson after his ceremonial first pitch in 2012.

CAREER CHOICE: "At the time I graduated (from Miami), this was never on my radar: 'I'm gonna grow up and be a mascot!'"

BEST PART OF OPENING DAY: "Oh my gosh! Opening Day! You just say the words and everyone is like, 'Yes!' We show up at the ball park at 5:30 a.m. for a 4:10 p.m. game (to appear on morning TV news)… It's a really long day, and I don't know that I'd have it any other way. It's fantastic."

Tune in to "Around Cincinnati" at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 18, to get the inside scoop on Rosie Red from the woman who knows her best.

John Kiesewetter, who has covered television and media for more than 35 years, has been working for Cincinnati Public Radio and WVXU-FM since 2015.