This is thought to be the first time in Broadway history that a mother and son will star together in a Broadway musical; Cassidy's father is the late Jack Cassidy. Jones will play the fading, imperious star who twists her ankle, allowing a newcomer to take over. As Dorothy, she gets choice Al Dubin-Harry Warren songs, including "Shadow Waltz" and "About a Quarter to Nine," as well as "I Only Have Eyes For You."
Jones and Cassidy play the roles at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts through Aug. 1.
The casting (widely reported but not verified by producers) was confirmed March 23 by producers Dodger Stage Holding and Joop van den Ende.
This revival of 42nd Street won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival and is playing at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 213 West 42nd Street.
Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy have previously appeared together on stage — in The Sound of Music for the St. Louis MUNY in 1977. Jones played Maria to Cassidy's Rolf (with Sarah Jessica Parker playing Brigitta). Shirley Jones returns to Broadway for the first time in nearly 40 years when she appeared with her husband Jack Cassidy in Maggie Flynn in 1968. She made her Broadway debut in 1953 in South Pacific. She won the Academy Award in 1960 for Best Supporting Actress for her role opposite Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantry." Other films include "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" with Gordon MacRae and "The Music Man."
Her other stage productions include Me and Juliet, Oklahoma! (Europe), The Beggar's Opera, Wait Until Dark, The Marriage Band, On A Clear Day..., Show Boat, The Sound of Music, Bittersweet, Love Letters and The King and I.
Patrick Cassidy recently appeared on Broadway in Aida (as well as the national tour for which he won the 2002 National Broadway Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Touring Musical), Annie Get Your Gun opposite Cheryl Ladd, Pirates of Penzance and Leader of the Pack. He originated the role of the Balladeer in Stephen Sondheim's Assassins at Playwrights Horizons and appeared in Lady in the Dark at City Center's Encores!
Tickets to 42nd Street are available by phone through Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100. The show will end its run Jan. 2, 2005.
Visit www.42ndstreetbroadway.com.
