NEW YORK (AP) – 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.
“It’s been a real wonderful process in putting it together because I’ve gained so much more insight about the movie and about my mom’s experience on the movie with Preston,” said Cassidy. “And I tell a story: ‘The Music Man’ itself is the reason I became an actor.'”