Isabel Bigley
Encyclopedia
Isabel Bigley was an American actress, perhaps best remembered for originating the part of Sarah Brown in Frank Loesser
's Guys and Dolls.
-born Bigley had been playing the role of Laurey in the London production of Oklahoma!
in 1950 when she was offered the role of Sarah Brown, the "mission doll," in the original Broadway
production of Guys and Dolls. For her performance in this production, Bigley received the Tony Award
for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
In 1953 she starred as Jeanie, the chorus girl, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein
show Me and Juliet
, a role created especially for her. Isabel Bigley performed frequently in the early days of television
in such shows as The Ed Sullivan Show
and The Colgate Comedy Hour
. On 25 June 1951, she appeared with other entertainers in a one-hour program on CBS
that was the start of nationally broadcast color television.
. She retired in 1958 to raise their children. Barnett and their six children survive her.
She and her husband made many charitable contributions to arts education, including establishing a graduate program in arts policy and administration at Ohio State University
. In 2005 Bigley was named chairwoman of the board of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California
.
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
's Guys and Dolls.
Biography
The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
-born Bigley had been playing the role of Laurey in the London production of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
in 1950 when she was offered the role of Sarah Brown, the "mission doll," in the original Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Guys and Dolls. For her performance in this production, Bigley received the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
In 1953 she starred as Jeanie, the chorus girl, in the Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
show Me and Juliet
Me and Juliet
Me and Juliet is a musical comedy by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and their sixth stage collaboration. The work tells a story of romance backstage at a long-running musical: assistant stage manager Larry woos chorus girl Jeanie behind the back of her electrician boyfriend, Bob...
, a role created especially for her. Isabel Bigley performed frequently in the early days of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in such shows as The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
and The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show stars many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou...
. On 25 June 1951, she appeared with other entertainers in a one-hour program on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
that was the start of nationally broadcast color television.
Personal life
In 1953, she married Lawrence R. Barnett, then president of the Music Corporation of AmericaMusic Corporation of America
MCA, Inc. was an American talent agency. Initially starting in the music business, they would next become a dominant force in the film business, and later expanded into the television business...
. She retired in 1958 to raise their children. Barnett and their six children survive her.
She and her husband made many charitable contributions to arts education, including establishing a graduate program in arts policy and administration at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. In 2005 Bigley was named chairwoman of the board of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
.