Oh, What a Beautiful Evenin'!

I suppose I should begin this by introducing myself. My name is Ashley and I live in North Carolina. I have been a Shirley Jones fan since I was four years old and my father "forced" (I use the term lightly) me to watch yet ANOTHER cowboy movie with him. Lucky for me, these cowboys did something that my father's other favorites (John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, James Garner, etc.) never did -- they sang and danced. Best of all, there was a lovely blonde with an exquisite voice in the film named Laurey. Of course, the film was Oklahoma! and the blonde was Ms. Shirley Jones. From that moment on, I adored her, and watched countless numbers of her films (you name it -- anything from Carousel to The Cheyenne Social Club -- I've probably seen it a dozen times) and reruns of The Partridge Family.

I went on my first trip to New York City on June 4-7, 2004, and the night of June 4, we had tickets to see Shirley and her son, Patrick Cassidy, in 42nd Street. (This, and the fact that Thoroughly Modern Millie was about to close are the two primary reasons why I went.) I have long been a fan of both the movie and stage version of the musical 42nd Street, and to see one of my favorite actresses playing my favorite character (Dorothy Brock)... I was absolutely ecstatic. From the moment she stepped foot on stage, I was in utter shock. I actually started crying. At 70 years old, the woman has STILL GOT IT. She is an absolute riot as Dorothy Brock. When she sings her first song ("Shadow Waltz") and starts off the night hitting one of the highest notes I have ever heard ANYONE hit in my life, it absolutely floors you. Her comedic timing is absolutely impeccible.

My friend and I decided to wait outside of the stage door for Ms. Jones that night, and I'm so glad my friend was there because I was a nervous wreck. It probably sounds very silly and, looking back on it, I probably looked like a total idiot. Here I was, a little 18 year old from North Carolina, standing in line outside of the Ford Theatre, shaking and crying. When someone's been an inspiration to you for the past 14 years of your life, it's pretty darned hard not to cry. We waited a good fifteen-twenty minutes before I turned my head and saw her standing just inside the doorway, talking to some friends. When she came out to greet all of her fans, she was extremely gracious. I will never forget how kind and generous she was. The crowd was also very generous that night -- several of them had shoved me up to the front of the line so that I would have a chance to meet her. Nervously, I told her (through tears) how I had loved her ever since I was 4 (wanted to BE her at 4, in fact) and how marvelous I thought she was in everything she did, especially tonight's show. I told her I flew all the way up from NC to see her in the show, and after she talked to me for a bit, I asked if it was okay if I took a picture with her. "Sure!" she said, and at that point I do believe I screamed: "I LOVE YOU!"

It was such a special night to me -- she was the first famous person I ever met, and for the first famous person I met to have been one of my absolute favorites of all time... that is just so special to me.

Perhaps someday I'll get up the courage to write her a letter and thank her for her generosity!

-Ashley Phipps