Broadway‘s tradition of dimming marquee lights for departed theater stars and leaders has often drawn criticism over what some in the theater community saw as a process that was both too secretive and too selective.
The issue reached a boiling point last fall with the in-rapid-succession deaths of actors Maggie Smith, Gavin Creel, Adrian Bailey and Ken Page. Who merited full dimmings at all 41 Broadway theaters? Partial dimmings at select theaters?
The brouhaha prompted the Broadway League to step away from its largely ceremonial role of announcing the dimmings and dates that had been determined by a committee of Broadway theater owners. Since then, the announcements have been made by an outside publicity firm.
Today, the theater owners took another step to correcting what many saw as a flawed system by creating Broadway In Memoriam, a quarterly tradition dedicated to honoring “the remarkable individuals who have left an indelible mark on Broadway.” The committee in charge of the memorials will be composed of theatre owners in consultation with industry service organizations.
Taking place four times a year on the second Tuesday of September, December, March and June, “this solemn and celebratory event will recognize multiple honorees, ensuring that the contributions of Broadway’s most influential artists, creators, and industry professionals are remembered and revered,” the committee said in a statement.
The marquees of all 41 Broadway theaters will be dimmed simultaneously on each Broadway In Memoriam evening “offering a moment of reflection and gratitude for the legacies of those who have shaped the theatrical world.”
Individual dimmings will not be discontinued. “Exceptions may arise where the Committee chooses to honor a singular individual who has had a profoundly significant and lasting impact on Broadway, such as Stephen Sondheim or Chita Rivera,” the committee said. “This process doesn’t preclude individual theatre owners having their own tributes at their theaters for employees or artists particularly meaningful to them they wish to recognize.” These exceptions would not then be included in the Broadway In Memoriam evenings.
The inaugural Broadway In Memoriam will take place on June 10, celebrating Broadway veterans who have passed away in 2025, with the list of honorees announced in advance.
Creative professionals who have worked on Broadway and career professionals dedicated to the Broadway industry may be submitted for consideration by completing an online form at https://broadwaymarqueeinmemoriam.org. The submission form requires the name of the individual to be honored, year of birth and death, a description of their work on Broadway, and a digital photo. Photo requirements can be found on the site
