“The Fantasticks” Writer Tom Jones Dies at 95

Tom Jones, the writer of the musical “The Fantasticks,” has passed away at the age of 95. The show, known for its opening song “Try to Remember,” ran for 42 years and is the longest-running musical in U.S. history. Jones collaborated with composer Harvey Schmidt on several other successful shows, earning Tony Award nominations. Jones is survived by his sons. Bruce Haring reported

Renowned playwright Tom Jones, who penned the book and lyrics for the enduring musical “The Fantasticks,” sadly passed away at the age of 95 at his residence in Sharon, Conn, succumbing to cancer according to his son. The critically acclaimed production, which debuted in 1960 in Greenwich Village, is most famously recognized for its captivating opening song, “Try to Remember.”

Jones embarked on his theatrical journey in New York, initially collaborating with composer John Donald Robb on the revues presented by impresario Julius Monk. However, their collaboration was short-lived, and Jones subsequently joined forces with his friend Harvey Schmidt. Together, they developed a musical initially conceived with Robb, which they later refined and offered as a one-act play for a summer festival at Barnard College in 1959. Notably, the production adopted an unconventional approach with a narrator and minimalist staging, deviating from the traditional formula of grand Broadway musicals.

The Barnard College show caught the attention of producer Lore Noto, who brought it to the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village. In May 1960, it premiered as “The Fantasticks,” featuring Jerry Orbach as El Gallo, the narrator who performs the iconic opening number, “Try to Remember.” While the initial reviews were mixed, the public embraced the show wholeheartedly, resulting in an astounding run of over 17,000 performances at Sullivan Street, making it the longest-running musical in American history until its closure in 2002.

Jones and Schmidt continued their fruitful collaboration, creating other notable works together. Jones provided the lyrics for Schmidt’s musical “110 in the Shade,” which premiered on Broadway in 1963 and enjoyed a successful run of 330 performances. Additionally, Jones wrote the book and lyrics for “I Do! I Do!,” another joint effort, which graced the Broadway stage for a year and a half in the mid-1960s. Both shows garnered Tony Award nominations for the talented duo. Furthermore, Ed Ames’s rendition of “My Cup Runneth Over,” a song from “I Do! I Do!,” reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and received Grammy Award nominations.

Undoubtedly, “The Fantasticks” remained the pinnacle of Jones’s career. The production experienced a revival in 2006 in Manhattan, captivating audiences for over 4,300 performances. Jones had two marriages, with his first ending in divorce and his second to choreographer Janet Watson, who sadly passed away in 2016. He is survived by his sons, Michael Jones and Sam, from his second marriage..