Jones to Participate in Night of 1,000 Luisas at Snapple Theater Center

By Adam Hetrick
and Andrew Gans
October 30, 2009

Fantasticks creator Tom Jones will make a special appearance at Night of 1,000 Luisas, a benefit concert to be held at the Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater Nov. 4.

Jones, who penned book and lyrics to the long-running Off-Broadway musical with his collaborator Harvey Schmidt, joins the 7 PM event that will feature past and present "Luisas" for the evening of "well-known and lesser-known songs from Broadway and beyond." Kim Moore directs the concert that promises a special surprise finale.

Luisa, of course, is the ingenue character in The Fantasticks.

Announced to perform are former Luisas including original Fantasticks leading lady Rita Gardner (Pal Joey, Ben Franklin in Paris, The Wedding Singer), as well as Alice Cannon (Company, James Joyce's The Dead), Glory Crampton (Phantom), Karen Culliver (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Phantom of the Opera), Carole Demas (Grease), Jean Louisa Kelly ("The Fantasticks" film), Betsy Morgan (The Little Mermaid, 2009 A Little Night Music), Marty Morris (A Little Night Music), Allison Munn ("That '70s Show"), Sarah Rice (Sweeney Todd) and Sara Schmidt (Jersey Boys, Brooklyn The Musical).

Proceeds will benefit Bideawee, the animal welfare organization that serves the New York metropolitan area.

The Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater, which is home to the current production of The Fantasticks, is located on West 50th Street and Broadway. Tickets for the concert, priced $45-$100, are available by calling (212) 921-7862 or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.