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Tom Jones (lyricist)

Thomas Collins Jones (February 17, 1928 – August 11, 2023) was an American lyricist and librettist, best known for The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade, and I Do! I Do!.

For other uses, see Tom Jones (disambiguation).

Tom Jones

(1928-02-17)February 17, 1928

Littlefield, Texas, U.S.

August 11, 2023(2023-08-11) (aged 95)

Sharon, Connecticut, U.S.

University of Texas at Austin

Lyricist and librettist

Early life[edit]

Jones was born in Littlefield, Texas, on February 17, 1928. He was raised in Coleman, Texas, the son of a turkey farmer (his father William) and a homemaker (his mother Jessie).[1] During his adolescence, he worked as an usher in a movie theater and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was involved in its theatre department. He attained a master's degree from the university in 1951.[1] All of Jones's major musicals were written with Harvey Schmidt, whom he met at the university.[1]

Personal life and death[edit]

Jones was first married to Eleanor Wright; the two later divorced.[1] Jones went on to marry choreographer Janet Watson. The couple had two children, Michael and Sam Jones. Watson died in 2016.[7]


Jones died from cancer on August 11, 2023, at the age of 95.[8]

Shoestring '57 (contributor) (1957)

[9]

Demi-Dozen (contributor) (1958) (For the titles of his contributions, see "Discography" in Julius Monk.)

[9]

(1960)[8]

The Fantasticks

(1963; book by N. Richard Nash, based on his play The Rainmaker)[10]

110 in the Shade

(1966; based on The Fourposter by Jan de Hartog)[11]

I Do! I Do!

(1969)[12]

Celebration

Colette (1970)

[13]

(1973)[14]

Philemon

Grover's Corners (1987; based on )[15]

Our Town

Mirette (1996; book by , based on the children's book Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully)[16]

Elizabeth Diggs

(2001; book by Jones, based on the 1929 play of the same name by Lynn Riggs, with music by Harvey Schmidt)[17]

Roadside

Harold and Maude (2004; music by Joseph Thalken, based on the film)

[18]

(2012; music by Jacques Offenbach with arrangements and additional music by Nancy Ford, based on the Anatol plays by Arthur Schnitzler).[19]

The Game of Love

at IMDb 

Tom Jones

at the Internet Broadway Database

Tom Jones

at Playbill Vault (archive)

Tom Jones

Downstage Center XM radio interview at American Theatre Wing, September 2006

Tom Jones

at The Guide to Musical Theatre

Philemon

at The Guide to Musical Theatre

Roadside

discography at Discogs

Tom Jones