1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
2. Maurice Jarre to Lawrence N. Kasha

Tom Jones Biography (1928-)

Born February 17, 1928, in Littlefield, TX; son of William T. (a hatcheryman)and Jessie (Bellomy) Jones; married Elinor Wright (a writer), June 1, 1963 (marriage ended); married Janet Watson (a choreographer), June 21, 1984; children: Sam, Michael. Addresses: HOME--Route Seven, Box 406, West Cornwall, CT, 06796.; MANAGER--Arthur B. Greene, 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178.

In a 1981 interview, Tom Jones told Contemporary Authors that when The Fantasticks opened in 1960, his wildest hopes were that the show would "have a respectable run and I would get out of the bookshop where I was working." More than twenty-five years later, The Fantasticks is still in its original run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York City, having become the longest running production in the history of American theatre.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

February 17, 1928

Littlefield, Texas, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE WORK
• Director, Philemon and Celebration, both Portfolio Studio, New York City,1975.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM WORK
• Producer (with Harvey Schmidt) and director, A Texas Romance, 1909, Janus, 1965.
• Credits; ALBUMS
• Shoestring '57 (original cast recording), Painted Smiles.
• The Fantasticks (original cast recording), Polydor.
• 110 in the Shade (original cast recording), Victor.
• Celebration (original cast recording), Capitol.
• Writings;STAGE
• Lyrics, Shoestring '57 (revue), Barbizon-Plaza Hotel, New York City, 1956.
• lyrics, Kaleidoscope (revue), Provincetown Playhouse, New York City, 1957.
• book and lyrics, The Fantasticks, first produced at the Barnard Summer Theatre, New York City, 1959, expanded version produced at the Sullivan StreetPlayhouse, New York City, 1960, then Apollo Theatre, London, 1961, publishedby Drama Book Shop, 1964.
• book adaptor and lyrics, Anatol, City Hall Theatre, Hamilton, Bermuda, 1960.
• lyrics, 110 in the Shade, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1963.
• book and lyrics, I Do! I Do!, 46th Street Theatre, New York City, 1966.
• book and lyrics, Celebration, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1969, published by Drama Book Shop, 1973.
• lyrics, Colette, Ellen Stewart Theatre, New York City, 1970, produced with revised book and lyrics, Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, 1982, and as Colette Collage, Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York City, 1983.
• book and lyrics, Portfolio Revue, Portfolio Theatre, New York City, 1974.
• book and lyrics, Philemon, Portfolio Theatre, 1975.
• Also wrote The Bone Room, Portfolio Studio, 1975; and book and lyrics forGrover's Corners, upcoming.
• Writings;FILM
• A Texas Romance, 1909, Janus, 1965.
• Writings;TELEVISION; AS WRITER OF BOTH BOOK AND LYRICS EPISODIC
• "A New York Scrapbook," Play of the Week, WNTA, 1961.
• Writings;SPECIALS
• "The Fantasticks," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1964.
• Philemon and I Do! I Do! have also been produced for television.

Recent Updates

January 10, 2005: Jones wrote the book and lyrics to the stage musicalHarold and Maude, based on the movie by Colin Higgins. The play, withmusic by Joseph Thalken, opened at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NewJersey. Source: New York Times, www.nytimes.com, January 11, 2005.

Further Reference

Sources

• Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, Vol. 6, Gale, 1982.