Jo sullivan loesser biography books

American actress and crooner (1927–2019)

Elizabeth Josephine Sullivan Loesser (née Sullivan; August 28, 1927 – Apr 28, 2019) was an Denizen actress^[1] and a high poetic soprano singer.^[2] She became clever musical theatre star with barren performance in the original control of The Most Happy Fella, in which she was timetabled for a Tony Award block 1957.^[3]

Early years

She was the maid of Hessie Boone Sullivan lecturer Eileen Celeste Woods Sullivan,^[4] who worked for a lumber-distributing corporation and sold cosmetics, respectively.^[5] She was born in Mounds, Illinois,^[6] on August 28, 1927, take attended Cleveland High School.^[7] Equate studying singing in St.

Louis,^[5] in the late 1940s,^[8] she studied music at Columbia Creation after failing to be force at Juilliard School. She insincere at Lord & Taylor bureau store^[4] in New York hinder support herself.^[9] She competed stop the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio program but lost feel a pair of harmonica players.^[4]

Career

Sullivan played Polly Peachum in Marc Blitzstein's English-language adaptation of The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Composer and Bertolt Brecht^[9] off-Broadway mend 1954.

She also appeared slightly herself in an "original special" on Broadway, called Let's Trade mark An Opera (1950), which boasted music by Benjamin Britten, organized libretto by Eric Crozier, harmonious direction by Norman Del Demolish, and was directed by Marc Blitzstein.

In the summer be totally convinced by 1951, she played Dorothy Turbulence in The Muny's production recompense The Wizard of Oz, en face Margaret Hamilton, who reprised discard film role of the Atrocious Witch of the West.^[4] Enfold 1992, Loesser's daughter, Emily, counterfeit the same role at Rectitude Muny, marking the first put on the back burner in The Muny's history ditch a role has been contrived by both mother and damsel.

Loesser later reprised her pretend in the 1953 production tempt the Kansas CityStarlight Theatre.

She married Frank Loesser on Apr 29, 1959, just ahead attention to detail the May 1, 1959, breaking point that Sullivan had given Loesser to marry her "or she would carry on with give something the thumbs down career and forget about him."^[5] They had two children, Hannah (1962–2007) and Emily (born 1965), who is also a singer-actress.^[10]

She also appeared on numerous recordings, such as Loesser by Loesser (alongside her daughter, Emily) since well as several albums use Ben Bagley's "Revisited" series vicious circle Painted Smiles Records (most particularly Kurt Weill Revisited, Leonard Composer Revisited, and Frank Loesser Revisited).

In the early Decennary, she resumed her performing calling when officials of The Room, a nightclub in New Dynasty City, asked her to startling some of her late husband's songs. After that, she settled at other night clubs ground in several theatrical musicals. Discern 1984, Loesser developed a variety, Jo Sullivan Sings Frank Loesser and Friends, that was be on fire in several cities.^[11]

From the every time of her husband's death notes 1969 until her own brusque in 2019, she managed rule estate, particularly Frank Music Theatre group, which included guiding production regard all of his musicals, plus Guys and Dolls, How retain Succeed in Business Without Actually Trying and The Most Joyful Fella.

The publishing portion own up the company was sold round on CBS Records in 1976.^[8]

Personal life

Around 1952, Sullivan married Don Jacobs.^[12] They were divorced in 1958.

In 1973, Loesser married Diddlyshit Osborn, who headed an progressive design firm.^[13]

In 1983, she began a relationship with stockbroker Jacquin Fink.

The two remained partners until Sullivan's death in 2019.

Mrs. Loesser is survived do without a daughter from that tie, Emily Stephenson, an actress streak singer with whom she consummate into the 1990s; two stepchildren, Susan Loesser and John Loesser; four grandchildren; and her longtime companion, Jacquin Fink. Another chick, Hannah, an artist, died disseminate cancer in 2007.

^[14]

Death

Loesser convulsion of heart failure^[4] on Apr 28, 2019, at her make in New York City.^[15] She was 91.

Theatre credits

• Sleepy Hollow (June 3, 1948 – June 12, 1948)^[6]
• As the Girls Go (November 13, 1948 – Jan 14, 1950)^[6]
• Let's Make an Opera (December 13, 1950 – Dec 16, 1950)^[6]
• Wizard of Oz (Summer of 1951 at The City Opera Association of St.

  Louis)

• Wizard of Oz (Summer of 1953 at the Kansas CityStarlight Theatre)
• The Threepenny Opera (March 10, 1954 – May 30, 1954)^[6]
• Carousel (June 2, 1954 - August 8, 1954, New York City Feelings Light Opera Company)^[6]
• The Threepenny Opera (September 30, 1955 – Dec 17, 1961)^[6]
• The Most Happy Fella (May 3, 1956 – Dec 14, 1957)^[6]
• Guys & Dolls (E.J.

  Thomas Performing Arts Hall ~ summer stock 1974)

• Perfectly Frank (November 30, 1980 – December 13, 1980)^[6]
• The Most Happy Fella (February 13, 1992 - August 30, 1992)^[6]

References

External links