MARINA DEL REY - Legendary singer and actress Shirley Jones will headline the finale of the summer concert series in Marina del Rey on Aug. 28 at Burton Chace Park.A native Pennsylvanian, Jones showed talent early and at the age of 6 became the youngest member of her church choir. Following graduation from high school, she borrowed $100 from her father to travel to New York and audition for the Broadway stage. Richard Rodgers, in a rare visit to a chorus audition, heard her sing and asked her to audition for his partner, Oscar Hammerstein. She sang, and the two realized they had found themselves a star. After appearing in two of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals on Broadway, Jones went to Hollywood to star in the musical film versions of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma," followed by their musical, "Carousel," and Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man." In addition to movie musicals, Jones' acting talent won her many starring roles in films, most notably opposite Burt Lancaster in "Elmer Gantry," for which she won an Academy Award. Of her many television appearances she is best-known for her four-year run in "The Partridge Family," playing the matriarch of the family's successful rock and roll band. She has been honored several times with Emmy nominations, and this season is nominated as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for "The Cleaner." Since 1977, Jones has been married to former comedian and TV producer Marty Ingels. Their frantic courtship was so outrageous and romantic that the story was told in their 1989 autobiography, "Shirley and Marty - An Unlikely Love Story." Burton Chace Park is at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. The concert is free.

********** Published: August 12, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 17