Elizabeth Josephine Sullivan Loesser (née Sullivan; August 28, 1927 – April 28, 2019) was an American actress and high
lyric soprano
A lyric soprano is a type of operatic soprano voice that has a warm quality with a bright, full timbre that can be heard over an orchestra. The lyric soprano voice generally has a higher tessitura than a soubrette and usually plays ingenues and ot ...
singer.
She became a
musical theatre star with her performance in the original production of ''
The Most Happy Fella
''The Most Happy Fella'' is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play '' They Knew What They Wanted'' by Sidney Howard. The show i ...
'', for which she was nominated for a
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
in 1957.
Early years
She was the daughter of Hessie Boone Sullivan and Eileen Celeste Woods Sullivan,
[ who worked for a ]lumber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
-distributing company and sold cosmetics
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
, respectively. She was born in Mounds, Illinois
Mounds is a city in Pulaski County, Illinois, United States. The population was 810 in the 2010 census, a decline from 1,117 in 2000.
Geography
Mounds is located at (37.114838, -89.199030).
According to the 2010 census, Mounds has a total area ...
, on August 28, 1927, and attended Cleveland High School. After studying singing in St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
, in the late 1940s, she studied music at Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
after failing to be accepted at Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...
and working at Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor was the oldest brick and mortar department store in the United States, in business from 1826 to 2020. The brand was purchased during former owner Le Tote's 2020 liquidation bankruptcy and relaunched by new owner, Saadia Group, as ...
department store in New York to support herself. She competed on the ''Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
''Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts'' (also known as ''Talent Scouts'') was an American radio and television variety show which ran on CBS from 1946 until 1958. Sponsored by Lipton Tea, it starred Arthur Godfrey, who was also hosting ''Arthur Godf ...
'' radio program but lost to a pair of harmonica players.[
]
Career
Sullivan played Polly Peachum in Marc Blitzstein's English-language adaptation of ''The Threepenny Opera
''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a " play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with mu ...
'' by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht off-Broadway in 1954. She also appeared as herself in an "original special" on Broadway, called ''Let's Make An Opera'' (1950), which boasted music by Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...
, a libretto by Eric Crozier
Eric Crozier OBE (14 November 19147 September 1994) was a British theatrical director, opera librettist and producer, long associated with Benjamin Britten.
Early life and career
Crozier was born in London and studied at the Royal Academy of Dr ...
, musical direction by Norman Del Mar, and was directed by Marc Blitzstein.
In the summer of 1951, she played Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is a fictional character created by American author L. Frank Baum as the protagonist in many of his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's classic 1900 children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and reappears in most of it ...
in The Muny
The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (commonly known as The Muny) is an amphitheatre, amphitheater located in St. Louis, Missouri. The theatre seats 11,000 people with about 1,500 free seats in the last nine rows that are available on a first ...
's production of '' The Wizard of Oz'', opposite Margaret Hamilton, who reprised her film role of the Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character who appears in the classic children's novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900), created by American author L. Frank Baum. In Baum's subsequent ''Oz'' novels, it is the Nome King who is ...
. In 1992, Loesser's daughter, Emily, played the same role at The Muny, marking the first time in The Muny's history that a role has been played by both mother and daughter. Loesser later reprised her role in the 1953 production at the Kansas City Starlight Theatre.
She married Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser (; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', among others. He won a Tony ...
on April 29, 1959, just ahead of the May 1, 1959, deadline that Sullivan had given Loesser to marry her "or she would carry on with her career and forget about him." They had two children, Hannah (1962–2007) and Emily (born 1965), who is also a singer-actress.
She also appeared on numerous recordings, such as ''Loesser by Loesser'' (alongside her daughter, Emily) as well as several albums for Ben Bagley
Ben Bagley (October 18, 1933 – March 21, 1998) was an American musical producer and record producer.
Career
Born in Burlington, Vermont, Bagley moved to New York during the early 1950s, and in 1955, at age 22, he produced his first hit, ''Shoe ...
's "Revisited" series on Painted Smiles Records (most notably ''Kurt Weill Revisited'', ''Leonard Bernstein Revisited'', and ''Frank Loesser Revisited'').
In the early 1980s, she resumed her performing career when officials of The Ballroom, a nightclub
A nightclub (music club, discothèque, disco club, or simply club) is an entertainment venue during nighttime comprising a dance floor, lightshow, and a stage for live music or a disc jockey (DJ) who plays recorded music.
Nightclubs gener ...
in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, asked her to sing some of her late husband's songs. After that, she performed at other night clubs and in several theatrical musicals. In 1984, Loesser developed a revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...
, ''Jo Sullivan Sings Frank Loesser and Friends'', that was presented in several cities.
From the time of her husband's death in 1969 until her own death in 2019, she managed his estate, particularly Frank Music Company, which included guiding production of all of his musicals, including ''Guys and Dolls
''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...
'', ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' may refer to:
* ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' (book), a 1952 book written by Shepherd Mead and the inspiration for the musical of the same name.
* ''How to Succeed in Bu ...
'' and ''The Most Happy Fella
''The Most Happy Fella'' is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play '' They Knew What They Wanted'' by Sidney Howard. The show i ...
''. The publishing portion of the company was sold to CBS Records in 1976.
Personal life
Around 1952, Sullivan married Don Jacobs. They were divorced in 1958.
In 1973, Loesser married Jack Osborn, who headed an industrial design firm.
In 1983, she began a relationship with stockbroker Jacquin Fink. The two remained partners until Sullivan's death in 2007.
Mrs. Loesser is survived by a daughter from that marriage, Emily Stephenson, an actress and singer with whom she performed into the 1990s; two stepchildren, Susan Loesser and John Loesser; four grandchildren; and her longtime companion, Jacquin Fink. Another daughter, Hannah, an artist, died of cancer in 2007.
Death
Loesser died of heart failure on April 28, 2019, at her home in New York City.[Gans, Andrew]
"Jo Sullivan Loesser, Tony-Nominated The Most Happy Fella Star, Dies at 91"
Playbill, April 29, 2019 She was 91.
Theatre credits
*'' Sleepy Hollow'' (June 3, 1948 – June 12, 1948)[
*'']As the Girls Go
''As the Girls Go'' is a musical with music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Harold Adamson and a book by William Roos.
After an out-of-town tryout at the Opera House in Boston in October 1948, the original Broadway production of ''As the Girls Go'' o ...
'' (November 13, 1948 – January 14, 1950)[
*'']Let's Make an Opera
''The Little Sweep'', Op. 45, is an opera for children in three scenes by the English composer Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Eric Crozier.
''Let's Make an Opera!''
''The Little Sweep'' is the second part of a stage production entitled ...
'' (December 13, 1950 – December 16, 1950)[
*'' Wizard of Oz'' (Summer of 1951 at The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis)
*'' Wizard of Oz'' (Summer of 1953 at the Kansas City Starlight Theatre)
*'']The Threepenny Opera
''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a " play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with mu ...
'' (March 10, 1954 – May 30, 1954)[
*'' Carousel'' (June 2, 1954 - August 8, 1954, New York City Center Light Opera Company)][
*'']The Threepenny Opera
''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a " play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with mu ...
'' (September 30, 1955 – December 17, 1961)[
*'']The Most Happy Fella
''The Most Happy Fella'' is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play '' They Knew What They Wanted'' by Sidney Howard. The show i ...
'' (May 3, 1956 – December 14, 1957)[
*'']Guys & Dolls
''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...
'' ( E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall ~ summer stock 1974)
*''Perfectly Frank
''Perfectly Frank'' is an album by Tony Bennett, released in 1992 and recorded as a tribute to Frank Sinatra.
Part of Bennett's late-in-life comeback to commercial success, it achieved gold record status in the United States and won the Grammy ...
'' (November 30, 1980 – December 13, 1980)[
*'']The Most Happy Fella
''The Most Happy Fella'' is a 1956 musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the 1924 play '' They Knew What They Wanted'' by Sidney Howard. The show i ...
'' (February 13, 1992 - August 30, 1992)[
]
References
External links
*
*
Jo Sullivan Loesser biography at FrankLoesser.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loesser, Jo Sullivan
1927 births
2019 deaths
Actresses from Illinois
American musical theatre actresses
American sopranos
People from Pulaski County, Illinois
21st-century American women