Oscar Winner Shirley Jones Comes to Barter Theatre for One Night Only Tonight

She's been a Rodgers and Hammerstein ingenue, an Oscar-winning actress, the coolest mom of the 1970s, and the author of a juicy tell-all book. She's Shirley Jones, and she is appearing at Barter Theatre for one night only, tonight, November 13th. Following the performance, top-level ticket holders can also meet Shirley Jones at an exclusive reception at The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa. Tickets range from $125 for a basic to a $400 premiere ticket with a chance to meet Shirley one-on-one. All proceeds benefit Barter's Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence.

It's a rare chance to see a star of this caliber perform in southwest Virginia. To some, Shirley Jones is best known for her 1950s musicals, as the beautiful, fresh-faced Laurey from "Oklahoma!", innocent Julie in "Carousel" and the adorable Marian the Librarian from "The Music Man." For serious film buffs, she may be most familiar as the actress who won an Academy Award for her daring performance as a prostitute in "Elmer Gantry." For those who came of age in the 1970s, she will always be Mrs. Partridge of the hit TV show "The Partridge Family."

Over her impressive career, she's kept her small-town friendliness and her down to earth sense of humor. Raised in small-town Pennsylvania, she started singing in the church choir, but on a school trip to New York City, she auditioned for a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, was cast on the spot, and within a year was promoted from the chorus to a starring role in "Oklahoma!"

In an intimate evening, Shirley Jones will perform her greatest hits from stage and screen in that show-stopping voice that made Rodgers and Hammerstein pluck her out of the chorus. Along with Broadway classics, she recounts funny behind-the-scenes stories about her rise to fame and her remarkable six-decade career in theatre, film and television.

After the performance, ticket purchasers at the $400 level can meet Shirley and have a professional photo taken with her at an exclusive reception at The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa. At this level they'll also receive an autographed copy of her autobiography, "Shirley Jones: A Memoir," plus premiere seating at the performance.

Ticket purchasers at the $200 level will receive premiere seating at the performance, an invitation to a post-show celebration featuring cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa, and an autographed copy of her autobiography. A $125 ticket is available for those who want to see the performance only.

An Evening with Shirley Jones benefits Barter Theatre's Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence, which helps sustain Barter as a hub of artistic vitality, educational innovation, economic strength and regional pride. Because ticket sales generate only a portion of Barter's income, the theatre relies on investment in the Annual Fund by individuals, the business community, foundations and government entities. In return, your tax-deductible gift to Barter Theatre changes lives throughout the region every day.

This event is made possible by lead sponsorships from The James & Laura Rogers Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, and Marvin and Marcia Gilliam.

Tickets are on sale now. To reserve tickets, call the Advancement Office at Barter Theatre at 276-619-3315 Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. For more information visit www.shirleyjonesatbarter.com or call 276-619-3315.