Born Feb. 17, 1928, in Littlefield, Tex., Jones studied drama at the University of Texas.
There he met his longtime collaborator, Harvey Schmidt, with whom he would write all his major musicals.
Their work included110 in the Shade, I Do!
‘The Fantasticks’ creator and lyricist Tom Jones.Everett Collection
I Do!, Philemon,andCelebration but their first greatest success wasThe Fantasticks.
Originally titledJoy Comes to Dead Horse,Jones conceived the twist onRomeo and Julietwith composer John Donald Robb.
Later, Jones reworked the musical with Schmidt as his composer.
Murray Abraham, andGlenn Close.
Jones often described his and Schmidt’s success as “gradual.”
Initial reviews forThe Fantastickswere mixed, but its staying power was undeniable.
“We really struggled the first summer,” Jones recalled in a 2016TheaterManiainterview.
“Our producer was advised to close it on opening night.
That was such a big event.
And then we had 100 performances and a big party.
Then it was a year and we did the television thing.
By the 10-year anniversary, we kind of realized that it had really changed our lives.”
He added, “We went to Beijing to see a production [being done] in Mandarin.
And I thought, ‘Well, I can afford to have an extra drink tonight.'”
