Jo Sullivan Loesser

Jo Sullivan Loesser became one of the musical theatre’s most radiant stars with her legendary performance as Rosabella in the landmark Frank Loesser Broadway musical, The Most Happy Fella, and as Polly opposite Lotte Lenya in the long-running, classic New York production ofThe Threepenny Opera. At the pinnacle of her career, however, she married composer Frank Loesser and left the stage for 17 years, devoting herself to her husband and to raising their two daughters, Hannah and Emily. After his untimely death, she returned to performing in 1977. Since then, she has become instrumental in preserving and furthering her husband’s great musical legacy. Jo toured the country in Guys & Dolls and The Most Happy Fella, co-produced and starred in the Broadway musical Perfectly Frank and starred Off-Broadway in I Hear Music…of Frank Loesser and Friends. She has overseen several hit Broadway revivals from the Loesser catalogue, including the record-breaking Guys and Dolls (1992) and How To Succeed in Business… (1995). Most recently, Guys and Dolls has become a smash hit once again, this time in London, starring Ewan McGregor. Jo has also appeared in concert with numerous major symphony orchestras across the country, most notably at Carnegie Hall and at the Kennedy Center. Mrs. Loesser’s upcoming project is a full-scale stage production of his classic film musical, Hans Christian Andersen, with a new book by Maury Yeston, scheduled to open in London in 2006.