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Academy Award winner Shirley Jones is about to hit the road with a concert version of “The Music Man” and she’s bringing along a special guest — her son, Patrick Cassidy.
Jones, who starred as the librarian love interest in the 1957 classic film version, will start a seven-state tour this month with her middle son playing con man Harold Hill. The two have a long history with the musical: She was pregnant with Patrick while the film was being shot.
The new concert mixes some of the songs by Meredith Willson with behind-the-scenes stories by Jones about filming the movie opposite Robert Preston and a tale or two from Cassidy, who credits “The Music Man” for sparking his love of performing.
Jones this time will play Mrs. Paroo — the mother of the librarian — and also be host of the show, which Cassidy helped develop. Mother and son will be backed by a cast of 12 actors, an orchestra and projected photos and images.
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A memorial for actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee will feature music by Alicia Keys and Audra McDonald, reflections by former Mayor David Dinkins and Sonia Sanchez, and a eulogy by Harry Belafonte.
The Terrie Williams Agency said Thursday that the celebration of Lee’s life will be held at the Riverside Church in New York on Sept. 20. Dee died June 11 at 91.
Dee’s poetry and prose will be read by Angela Bassett, Tyne Daly, Kim Fields, S. Epatha Merkerson, Phylicia Rashad, Pauletta Washington and Lynn Whitfield. Musical tributes will be performed by Keys, McDonald, Wynton Marsalis and Peter Yarrow.
Dee’s long career earned her an Emmy, a Grammy, two Screen Actors Guild awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Art and an Oscar nomination.
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