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{{short description|American actress and singer}}
'''Helon Blount''' (January 15, 1929 – March 7, 2005) was a [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] actress and singer who appeared in the original productions of such notable musicals as ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'', ''[[Woman of the Year (musical)|Woman of the Year]]'' and ''[[Follies]]''.
'''Helon Blount''' (January 15, 1929 – March 7, 2005) was an actress and singer who appeared in the original [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions of such musicals as ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'', ''[[Woman of the Year (musical)|Woman of the Year]]'' and ''[[Follies]]''.


==Biography==
==Biography==
⚫
She was born in [[Big Spring, Texas]]<ref name=play1/> and attended the fine arts and music school at the [[University of Texas]]. She sang in the chorus of the Dallas State Fair Musicals during two summers and, after earning her Master's Degree in Voice Pedagogy, she moved to [[New York City]].
{{unsourced|section|date=June 2017}}
⚫
She was born in [[Big Spring, Texas]],<ref name=play1/> according to her death notice in the ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. As a student in the fine arts and music school at the [[University of Texas]] she sang in the chorus of the Dallas State Fair Musicals for two summers and, after earning her Master's Degree in Voice Pedagogy, she moved to [[New York City]] and a career onstage, on Broadway, in tours and in stock productions around the country, followed.


She appeared in the original production of [[Frank Loesser]]'s ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]''. She originally understudied the role of "Cleo" and would take over the role during the Broadway run.<ref name=credits>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Helon-Blount/ "Helon Blount Credits"] broadwayworld.com, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref> Forty years later, Ms. Blount played “Granny Briggs” in a revised version of Loesser's ''[[Greenwillow]]'' in 1997 in [[Sarasota, Florida]].
She appeared in the original production of [[Frank Loesser]]'s ''[[The Most Happy Fella]]'' on Broadway in 1956.<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/production/the-most-happy-fella-imperial-theatre-vault-0000006057 " 'The Most Happy Fella' Broadway 1956"] Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref> She originally understudied the role of "Cleo" and took over the role during the Broadway run.<ref name=credits>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Helon-Blount/ "Helon Blount Credits"] broadwayworld.com, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref> Forty years later, Blount played “Granny Briggs” in a revised version of Loesser's ''[[Greenwillow]]'' in 1997 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in [[Sarasota, Florida]]. She received a "South Florida Sammie Award" as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.<ref>Lefkowitz, David. [http://www.playbill.com/article/south-florida-sammie-awards-announced-com-71517# "South Florida Sammie Awards Announced"] Playbill, September 19, 1997</ref><ref>Haun, Harry and Lefkowitz, David. [http://www.playbill.com/article/sarasota-greenwillow-opens-june-10-com-70671# "Sarasota 'Greenwillow' Opens June 10"] Playbill, June 10, 1997</ref>


Other Broadway credits included playing “Dee Dee West” in the original production of [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s
Other Broadway credits included playing “Dee Dee West” in the original production of [[Stephen Sondheim]]'s
''[[Follies]]'' (1971) (also understudying the roles of Hattie and Stella), ''[[Do I Hear a Waltz?]]'' (1965), ''Musical Chairs'' and ''[[The Fig Leaves Are Falling]]'' (1969). In [[Kander and Ebb]]'s ''[[Woman of the Year (musical)|Woman of the Year]]'' (1981), which starred [[Lauren Bacall]], Blount played several characters. Blount also appeared in ''Riverwind'' in 1962, an [[Off-Broadway]] musical.<ref name=credits/>
''[[Follies]]'' (1971) (also understudying the roles of Hattie and Stella),<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/production/follies-winter-garden-theatre-vault-0000011547 " 'Follies' Broadway 1971"] Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref> ''[[Do I Hear a Waltz?]]'' (1965), ''Musical Chairs'' and ''[[The Fig Leaves Are Falling]]'' (1969). In [[Kander and Ebb]]'s ''[[Woman of the Year (musical)|Woman of the Year]]'' (1981), which starred [[Lauren Bacall]], Blount played several characters.<ref name=credits/>
<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/person/helon-blount-vault-0000099066# "Blount Broadway"] Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref>
<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/person/helon-blount-vault-0000099066# "Blount Broadway"] Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref> Blount also appeared in ''Riverwind'' in 1962, an [[Off-Broadway]] musical.<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/3811 ''Riverwind''] lortel.org, retrieved October 13, 2017</ref>


==Personal==
==Personal==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91648.html Obituary]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404002824/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/91648.html Obituary]
* {{IBDB name|77934}}
* {{IBDB name|77934}}
* {{iobdb name|21755}}
* {{iobdb name|21755}}
Line 30: Line 30:
[[Category:American musical theatre actresses]]
[[Category:American musical theatre actresses]]
[[Category:People from Big Spring, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Big Spring, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Travis County, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:Singers from Texas]]

Latest revision as of 00:40, 13 November 2024

Helon Blount (January 15, 1929 – March 7, 2005) was an actress and singer who appeared in the original Broadway productions of such musicals as The Most Happy Fella, Woman of the Year and Follies.

Biography

[edit]

She was born in Big Spring, Texas[1] and attended the fine arts and music school at the University of Texas. She sang in the chorus of the Dallas State Fair Musicals during two summers and, after earning her Master's Degree in Voice Pedagogy, she moved to New York City.

She appeared in the original production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella on Broadway in 1956.[2] She originally understudied the role of "Cleo" and took over the role during the Broadway run.[3] Forty years later, Blount played “Granny Briggs” in a revised version of Loesser's Greenwillow in 1997 at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. She received a "South Florida Sammie Award" as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.[4][5]

Other Broadway credits included playing “Dee Dee West” in the original production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies (1971) (also understudying the roles of Hattie and Stella),[6] Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965), Musical Chairs and The Fig Leaves Are Falling (1969). In Kander and Ebb's Woman of the Year (1981), which starred Lauren Bacall, Blount played several characters.[3] [7] Blount also appeared in Riverwind in 1962, an Off-Broadway musical.[8]

Personal

[edit]

Blount died on March 7, 2005.[1] Blount's husband, Keith Kaldenberg, whom she met as a member of the cast of The Most Happy Fella, predeceased her. Their daughter Kim survives her parents.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Jones, Kenneth. "Helon Blount Kaldenberg, of Broadway's 'Happy Fella' and 'Follies', Dead at 76" Playbill, March 9, 2005
  2. ^ " 'The Most Happy Fella' Broadway 1956" Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017
  3. ^ a b "Helon Blount Credits" broadwayworld.com, retrieved October 13, 2017
  4. ^ Lefkowitz, David. "South Florida Sammie Awards Announced" Playbill, September 19, 1997
  5. ^ Haun, Harry and Lefkowitz, David. "Sarasota 'Greenwillow' Opens June 10" Playbill, June 10, 1997
  6. ^ " 'Follies' Broadway 1971" Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017
  7. ^ "Blount Broadway" Playbill, retrieved October 13, 2017
  8. ^ Riverwind lortel.org, retrieved October 13, 2017
[edit]
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