Tom Jones, popularly known for being the director, creator, writer, and lyricist for the popular musical titled "The Fantasticks," which is also considered to be the longest-running musical in history, has passed away at the age of 95.
According to Billboard, the musician, not to be confused with Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, reportedly passed away on August 11, 2023, at his home in Sharon, Connecticut.
The famed musical's co-producer and the lyricist's longtime collaborator, Dan Shaheen, confirmed the tragic news, saying Jones' cause of death was cancer.
However, it was not stated when he was first diagnosed nor what type of cancer he had before his passing.
Tom Jones 'The Fantasticks' Broadway Musical
Per the outlet, Tom Jones was one of the most iconic Broadway figures as he was already inducted to the American Theatre Hall of Fame in the late 90s.
Some of his works include "100 in the Shade" and "I Do! I Do!" but the public popularly knew him for his creation, "The Fantasticks," a musical that ran from 1960 to 2017.
The show saw some of the most legendary actors like Kristin Chenoweth, Ricardo Montalban, Jerry Orbach, Rita Gardner, Santino Fontana, and many more. The musical also got a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1991.
Even though the show was successful for its first 42 years at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village in New York City, it was closed in 2002. At the time, it had over 17,162 performances.
The reason why the show was halted was due to the 9/11 incident.
Tom Jones 'The Fantasticks' Reopened in 2006
Fortunately, "The Fantasticks" was able to bounce back in a new location, The Snapple Theater (Center later renamed The Theater Center) which is an off-Broadway complex located around Times Square.
It went on to have thousands of more shows in the succeeding years until 2017 when production decided to close the curtains after 21,552 shows.
"So many people have come, and this thing stays the same - the platform, the wooden box, the cardboard moon... We just come and do our little thing and then we pass on," he said of the show's longevity in a 2013 interview with The Associated Press.
Jones is survived by his two children named Michael and Sam.
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