American Theater Hall of Fame

The American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City was founded in 1972. Earl Blackwell was the first head of the Executive Committee. In an announcement at a luncheon meeting on March 1972, he said that the new Theater Hall of Fame would be located in the Uris Theatre (then under construction, now the Gershwin). James M. Nederlander and Gerard Oestreicher, who leased the theatre, donated the space for the Hall of Fame; Arnold Weissberger was another founder. Blackwell noted that the first 90 members of the Hall of Fame had been chosen, with their names "to be embossed in bronze-gold lettering on the theater's entrance walls flanking its grand staircase and escalator."[1] The first group of inductees to be elected, 23 in all, were announced in October 1972.[2]

Eligible inductees come from disciplines including actors, playwrights, song writers, designers, directors and producers who have had a career in American theater for at least twenty-five years and, at least five major production credits on Broadway . [3][4] Selections are made by approximately 400 voting members from the Theater Hall of Fame and the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA).

Induction takes place at a ceremony at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, where the plaques containing the names of the inductees are hung.[5]

Since 1998, full accounts of the annual induction ceremonies, with quotes from both inductees and their presenters, have appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. An index to these articles is on the ATCA website.[3]

Recent ceremonies

The 2009 inductees were Jim Dale, John McMartin, Roger Berlind, Theodore Mann, Stephen Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and posthumously, Lynn Redgrave and Charles Ludlam. The ceremony took place on January 25, 2010.[6]

The 2010 inductees were Brian Dennehy, Linda Lavin, Fritz Weaver, Michael Blakemore, Caryl Churchill, Paul Gemignani; James Lapine and, posthumously, Joseph Chaikin. The ceremony took place on January 24, 2011, hosted by Pia Lindstrom.[7]

The 2011 inductees were Tyne Daly, Ben Vereen, Ann Roth, Daniel Sullivan, producers George White, Elliot Martin and Woodie King Jr. and, posthumously, Paul Sills. The ceremony took place on January 20, 2012, hosted by Estelle Parsons.[8]

The 2012 inductees were Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston, Trevor Nunn, Michael Kahn, Andre Bishop, Paula Vogel, Christopher Durang and, posthumously, Martin Pakledinaz. The ceremony was held on January 28, 2013 and hosted by Tyne Daly.[9][10]

The 2013 inductees were Ellen Burstyn, Lorraine Hansbury, David Hays, Cherry Jones, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Lynne Meadow, George C. Wolfe and Jerry Zaks.[11] The ceremony was held on January 27, 2014, with Joel Grey as host.

The 2014 inductees were Susan Stroman, F. Murray Abraham, Alvin Epstein, Blythe Danner, Frank Rich, Chairman of the Shubert Organization Philip J. Smith, Alfred Uhry and director Marshall W. Mason. The Induction Ceremony was held on May 4, 2015, at the Gershwin Theatre, hosted by Pia Lindstrom. The originally scheduled ceremony, on January 26, 2015, was postponed due to a blizzard.[12]

The 2015 inductees were Tony Kushner, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Julie Taymor, Robert Falls, Stacy Keach, Ken Billington, Broadway publicist Merle Debuskey and, posthumously, Roger Rees. The Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony was held on November 16, 2015 at the Gershwin Theatre, hosted by Estelle Parsons.[13]

The 2016 inductees are Glenn Close, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Phylicia Rashad, costume designer Catherine Zuber, lyricist Sir Tim Rice, playwright Marsha Norman, librettist Joe Masteroff and producer Paul Libin. The Induction Ceremony was held on November 14, 2016 at the Gershwin Theatre.[14][15]

Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon

A Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon has been held annually since 2004. The luncheon "salutes a member of the Theater Hall of Fame who continues to work on Broadway and also presents grants to emerging theatre artists."[16] The 9th Annual Luncheon, which was held on June 15, 2012 at the New York Friars Club, honored Joel Grey.

Inductees

Original Inductees (those added to the Hall of Fame upon its opening in 1972); the complete list is at Theater Hall of Fame[17] and[4]:

Founders Award

There is also a special Theater Hall of Fame Founders Award, established in 1993 in honor of the 3 founders, and awarded for an individual's outstanding contribution to the theatre.[19][3] Founders Award Awardees

  • 1993 James Nederlander
  • 1994 Kitty Carlisle Hart
  • 1995 Harvey Sabinson
  • 1996 Henry Hewes
  • 1997 Otis L. Guernsey, Jr.
  • 1998 Edward Colton
  • 1999 (No award)
  • 2000 Gerard Oestreicher
  • 2000 Arnold Weissberger
  • 2001 Tom Dillon
  • 2002 (No award)
  • 2003 Price Berkley
  • 2004 (No award)
  • 2005 Donald Seawell
  • 2007 Roy A. Somlyo
  • 2008 Shirley Herz

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Calta, Louis. "A Hall of Fame for the Theater To Honor Outstanding Figures", New York Times, March 7, 1972, ISSN 0362-4331, p. 45
  2. ↑ "Uris Hall of Fame Names First Group". New York Times. October 27, 1972.
  3. 1 2 3 Theatre Hall of Fame ATCA.org, accessed September 19, 2016
  4. 1 2 Hodges, Ben."The Theater Hall of Fame"Theatre World (2008-2009) (Vol. 65), Hal Leonard Corporation, 2009, ISBN 1-4234-7369-8, p.393-394
  5. ↑ "Hall of Fame: theater veterans get a night in limelight"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 30, 2008
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Redgrave, Schwartz and Lloyd Webber Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" playbill.com, October 8, 2009
  7. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Peter, Thomas."Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony, Honoring Linda Lavin, Brian Dennehy, Michael Blakemore, Presented Jan. 24" playbill.com, January 24, 2011
  8. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Gioia, Michael. "Tyne Daly, Ben Vereen, Ann Roth, Daniel Sullivan and More Inducted Into Theater Hall of Fame Jan. 30" playbill.com, January 30, 2012
  9. ↑ Gans, Andrew and Gioia, Michael. "Exclusive: Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston, Trevor Nunn, Christopher Durang, Andre Bishop Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" playbill.com, September 24, 2012 Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Champion, Lindsay. "Tyne Daly to Host Theater Hall of Fame Induction of Betty Buckley, Sam Waterston and More" broadway.com, October 16, 2012
  11. ↑ "Cherry Jones, Ellen Burstyn, Cameron Mackintosh, and More Inducted Into Broadway's Theater Hall of Fame" theatermania.com, January 27, 2014
  12. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony, Honoring Susan Stroman, F. Murray Abraham, Philip J. Smith and More, Presented Tonight"" playbill.com, May 4, 2015
  13. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Presenters Announced for Starry Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony" Playbill, November 11, 2015
  14. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Brian Stokes Mitchell, Paul Libin, Glenn Close Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees" Playbill, September 19, 2016
  15. ↑ Gambino, Joe. "Inside the Theater Hall of Fame’s 46th Annual Ceremony" Playbill, November 15, 2016
  16. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Bernadette Peters, Bebe Neuwirth, Stephen Schwartz Will Salute Joel Grey at Theater Hall of Fame Luncheon" playbill.com, May 29, 2012
  17. ↑ "Members" theaterhalloffame.org, accessed September 19, 2016
  18. ↑ "Fred Astaire inducted into Theater Hall of Fame."
  19. ↑ Willis, John."The Theater Hall of Fame Founders Award"Theater World 2001-2002, Volume 58, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004, ISBN 1-55783-625-6, p. 210

External links

Coordinates: 40°45′44″N 73°59′04″W / 40.7622°N 73.98450°W / 40.7622; -73.98450

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