Ann Crowley obit

Singer Ann Crowley Jones Has Died 

She was not on the list.

Ann Crowley Jones passed away on April 24, 2023 with family surrounding her. Her life was truly remarkable. Ann was born on October 17, 1929 to Vincent and Helen Crowley in Olyphant, PA. From humble beginnings in coal country at the start of the Great Depression, she rose to top billing of Broadway and London's West End and then met the love of her life, Steve Jones. Ann was married for 47 amazing years to Steve who passed in 2003 and then married long-time family friend Jim Simpson with whom she had 10 wonderful years before his passing in 2016. She had five children from her marriage to Steve including Stephen (d. 2018), Elisa (Ted d. 2022), Christopher (d. 1960), Thomas (Colleen), and Blaise (Jennifer). She is also survived by her sister Patricia Crowley Friendly (Andy), and 10 grandchildren Gabriele (Dave), Caroline (Jack), Julia (Brendan), Christopher (Kelsey), Stephanie (Shawn), Charlie, Michael, Alex (Brien), Blaise (Kaitlin) and Connor (Liz) as well as seven great grandchildren with another one on the way.

She was known mostly for her work on Broadway, where, after briefly playing Laurey in Oklahoma! while still a high-school student, she played the leading role of Jennifer in Paint Your Wagon and originated the starring role of Lola in Seventeen. She occasionally also appeared on television. Crowley married and retired from the stage in 1955.

As early as 1944, Crowley was singing in clubs at hotels. An audition with the Theatre Guild in 1945 led to her becoming a member of the cast of Oklahoma! on Broadway. On September 1, 1946, she was designated the understudy for Betty Jane Watson, who portrayed Laurey. When Watson had laryngitis on October 4, 1946, Crowley took her place in the show's matinee and evening presentations. Her performances gained attention, including a feature article in the next day's issue of The New York Times. Crowley's other Broadway credits included Carousel (1945), for which she won a 1947 Theatre World Award as a replacement player, and the starring roles of Jennifer in Paint Your Wagon (1951) and Lola in Seventeen (1952), which she originated. She portrayed Laurey in a production of Oklahoma! in London in 1948. The musical ran for five months, and Crowley's performances were interrupted by surgery for appendicitis. She also toured in the US as Laurey and also as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel (1947). Her regional theatre roles included Looloo Martin in Hit the Deck (musical).(1950) at St. John Terrell's Music Circus in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Her work on television included "Cinderella '53", a one-hour musical broadcast on Studio One on December 21, 1953, as well as Schlitz Playhouse and Musical Comedy Time. In May 1955, Crowley headed the entertainment program in the Statler Terrace Room in Los Angeles.