Isabel, here and gone...

 Isabel Bigley hailed from The Bronx! 

Born February 23, 1926, Isabel studied at Juillard and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her Broadway debut came in 1946, when she scooped a place in the chorus of Oklahoma! Later she was cast as Laurey in the London company with Howard Keel (Note "Harold" Keel in the program below...he musta been Howard's evil twin? :)) She played the part for 3 years.

 

 In 1950, she originated the part of Sister Sarah Brown, that "mission doll", in Guys And Dolls. AND she was the doll that Frank Loesser notoriously slapped for not singing loudly enough! Frank evidently didn't believe in "saving one's voice" and expected full-out performances, even in rehearsals. That slap sent Isabel home for a week, during which time Loesser sent flowers and candy. Lucky for him, she returned to rehearsals AND performances, and of course was later rewarded with a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. WHEW!

Below with Robert Alda (Sky Masterson) and Pat Rooney (Arvide Abernathy).

 In 1953, she starred as Jeanie, the chorus girl, in the Rodgers and Hammertein musical, Me And Juliet, along with Joan McCracken (above) and Bill Hayes (below). Supposedly the role was written especially for her.

                              With Richard Rodgers and Bill "rehearsing".

Isabel married Lawrence Barnett, the president of the Music Corporation of America, in 1953. She retired from the stage in 1958, to raise her 6 children.    (She named one of her daughters "Laurey", btw.) 

                                She passed away in 2006, at the age of 80.