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Shirley Jones: Pittsburgh Playhouse
built 232 days ago
Shirley Jones arrives at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 28, 2007, in Los Angeles. Jones, the matriarch of TV's "The Partridge Family," was honored Saturday, June 2, 2007, by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for her lifetime contribution to musical theater.
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Oscar winner Shirley Jones will receive the Pittsburgh CLO's annual Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre on June 2, 2007. The presentation, which will be made by Rodgers' daughter, Mary Rodgers Guettel, will be part of the CLO's Pink Frolic Ball at the Hilton Hotel.
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Shirley Mae Jones was born in Pennsylvania; Paul and Marjorie Jones named their only child after the beloved and famous Shirley Temple. Jones began her singing career at the age of six in the Methodist Church Choir and took voice lessons from Ralph Lewando. She attended the Pittsburgh Playhouse in 1952 and went on to New York in 1953. It was here that she landed her first musical role on Broadway as a nurse in South Pacific. From there she went to Hollywood, where her singing/acting career flourished.
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Following her apprenticeship at the playhouse, Shirley borrowed $160 from her father to take on the Big Apple, promising to return home when the money was gone. Smithton never saw that return. Incredibly, America's number one musical show masters signed Shirley to an exclusive personal contract before the month's end, her very first audition, and only $110 were gone. Shirley learned that replacement try-outs for the chorus of "South Pacific" were underway at the St. James Theater. She arrived at the theater to find over 85 girls scrambling for a place in line. 51 girls later, Shirley Mae Jones walked onto the empty stage to sing.
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Shirley attended the local schools and at the age of six she was the youngest member of the Methodist Church Choir. Recognizing her gifted and natural singing ability, Paul and Marjorie took their daughter to see Ralph Lewando, one of Pittsburgh’s top vocal coaches. Once a week, Shirley’s father was more than happy to drive her fifty miles to the big city, for her hour-long vocal session. After graduating from South Huntingdon High in 1952, Shirley was spotted by a scout photographer for The 1952 Miss Pittsburgh Pageant. Shirley entered the contest and won. She then went on to compete for the title of Miss Pennsylvania, this time coming in as first runner up.
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After her graduation from high school, Shirley entered the Miss Pittsburgh contest and won. As part of her prize, she was to be sent to the Pittsburgh Playhouse Dramatic School and later became an apprentice. During this time, Jones went to New York and on a dare tried out for part in a Rogers and Hammerstein show. She got the part and Rogers and Hammerstein signed her to a contract personally--the only star that was given the option for their shows. Her talent carried her on not only to Broadway, but to movies (which included many great musicals), and later TV.
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